Update:

At about 1:30pm on the afternoon of the 24th of April 2016 emergency services were called to a two car motor vehicle crash on State Highway 2 Otamarakau near Pukehina.

The crash involved two silver Toyota vehicles traveling in opposite directions.

A 19-year-old Whakatane woman was transported by the TECT TrustPower Rescue Helicopter and taken through to the Tauranga hospital in a serious condition. Next of Kin for the driver have been advised.

State Highway 2 Otamarakau was closed for just over two and a half hours and diversions were put in place diverting traffic onto old coach road, MacDougall Quarry Road and Otamarakau Valley Road, whilst emergency services and the Police serious crash unit were in attendance at the scene.

It is too early to indicate the cause of the accident but it is believed that one of the vehicles crossed the centre line. The road was re-opened at about 4:20pm.

Police are seeking any witnesses to the crash, and ask that anyone with information contact Tauranga Police on (07) 577 4300 or alternatively anonymously on crimes stoppers 0800 555 111.

Earlier: One person is in hospital after a two-car crash on SH2 near the the Waitahanui Bridge in Otamarakau, west of Pukehina.

'At 1.34 pm this afternoon the fire service were called to the crash site and found one person trapped in a car,” says Fire Service communications shift manager Daniel Nicholson.

He says fire crews managed to free the injured person. They then assisted with clearing a landing spot for the TECT Trustpower Rescue helicopter, which transported the injured person to hospital.