Three people were taken to hospital after a car and truck collided on State Highway 2 in the Waioeka Gorge, south of Opotiki, about 8pm last night.
The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Trustpower TECT Rescue helicopter were both called to Opotiki Airport to meet a St John Ambulance about9pm.
A statement from Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter staff said the truck collided head on with a car after the truck lost control coming down a hill.
The helicopters landed at Opotiki because of the risk of wires criss-crossing the gorge road.
The driver of the car, reported to be a 49-year-old Hamilton woman, received serious back injuries in the crash and was flown to Waikato Hospital by the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
The driver of the truck received only minor injuries and was taken by St John ambulance to Whakatane hospital, his passenger , a 23 year old Whakatane man, received serious leg injuries and was flown to Tauranga hospital in a moderate condition.
