UPDATED 8.54PM: Five people have died after a car and truck crashed on State Highway 2, near Aongatete.
Police says a truck and a car collided on State Highway 2, near Dawsons Road around 8.15pm.
"State Highway 2 is closed in both directions between Morton Road and Thompson's Track," police say in a media statement.
Motorists are advised to travel via the Kaimai Summit or Rotorua.
The serious crash unit and commercial vehicle investigation unite are at the scene, along with firefighters from Katikati and Tauranga and St John Paramedics.
UPDATED 8.34PM: State Highway 2, near Aongatete, is closed as emergency services deal with a serious crash.
Emergency services were called to the crash, near Morton Estate, just before 8.20pm.
A caller to the 0800 SUNLIVE news hotline reported one lane was initially open, but SunLive has since been told that the highway is closed.
People are being asked to avoid the area if possible or expect delays.
We will bring you more as soon as it is available.
Earlier:
Reports are coming in of a serious crash on State Highway 2, north of Tauranga.
A caller to tthe 0800 SUNLIVE news hotline says the crash is near the Morton Estate, near Aongatee.
It's unclear how many vehicles are involved or how badly injured those involved are.
The caller says one lane of the highway is open and police are at the scene of the crash.
Motorists are being advised to avoid the area if possible or expect delays as emergency services deal with the crash.
SunLive will bring you more information as soon as it is available.
At the scene?
Call 0800 SUNLIVE or email photos to newsroom@thesun.co.nz
6 comments
waiting to happen
Posted on 03-08-2016 07:41 | By freedomkiwis
If it's near the Morton estate on the Aongatete side then it would have been an accident waiting to happen. All those roads off to the right in that area have a turning bay, but NOT the road turning into Aongatete coolstores. It's the only one that doesn't have one and to top it off has yellow lines on the left had side, so you can't pull over to the left to wait for traffic to clear before turning right. You can only sit in the middle of the road waiting like a sitting duck. I hope this isn't what happened cos I've written to transit and councils about this before. It always gave me the shits turning in there.
Roading Kaos.
Posted on 03-08-2016 08:29 | By leighmac
SH 2 in this area must be the busiest and most dangerous,underfunded Highway in NZ.It appears that the NZTA are more interested in patch-up improvements than actually solving the problem. This single lane road is the entrance to NZ' largest port. The traffic volume is greater than the new Western Bypass! This could easily be solved by a bypass through Thomson's Track! How many more deaths are required to get action NZTA? More patch up roading remedies are not the answer,it's still basically a single lane road! Come on NZTA get real, with the money already spent on the property purchases for the bypass and the flag fiasco, we would be half way there!
Not the Road
Posted on 03-08-2016 12:59 | By Mackka
People shouldn't assume they know what happened before the facts are made public.This had nothing to do with the road - as it is reported that the car pulled straight out in front of the logging truck. As is usually the case it is poor driving - inattention, lack of concentration , not looking before proceeding etc etc. Condolences to the families, my sympathy is with the unfortunate logging truck driver, and those who had to clear up the carnage.
Mackka
Posted on 03-08-2016 13:59 | By mutley
Agree completely. My condolences to all affected parties, but this seems to be simply a bad mistake. The consequences of making bad mistakes will often be bad.
agree with Mutley and Mackka
Posted on 04-08-2016 07:55 | By old trucker
After long shift in the car gone,i use to haul 40ft containers out of there,this will not be the last on this road,all that wire fencing will get someone,POLICE always say its a HORROR highway its not if you take your time,been driving for 55 yrs and have no trouble A to B on this road,i suggested to NZTA to put a 50 KMPH sign at each end of Tepuna and POLICE it, now will spend $7million when it would cost a few bucks on 2 signs, they will not listen,SAFA JOURNEYS YEAH RIGHT,they are causing all this MAYHAM,Thanks Sunlive,PS will see Kenny off this afternoon, SAD.
@freedomkiwis
Posted on 04-08-2016 12:52 | By penguin
Your scenario does not fit with the facts. The car was exiting Dawson Road and turning right. That's why the truck hit the right hand side.
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