Woman critical after river crash

A Gisborne woman remains in critical condition in Tauranga Hospital after her car crashed down a 15m bank into the Waioeka River, south of Opotiki.

The 25-year-old woman and two children, aged 8 and 4, were airlifted from Opotiki Airfield to Tauranga Hospital about 4pm yesterday.

A woman is in a critical condition after her car crashed into the river in the Waioeka Gorge.

A Bay of Plenty District Health Board communications advisor says the woman, who suffered serious head injuries, is still in a critical condition and the two girls are listed as comfortable.

Police and firefighters were called to the crash in the Waioeka Gorge about 11am Wednesday to find the two children out of the partially submerged vehicle.

The woman was still inside the small hatchback and unconscious when they arrived.

Firefighters help to remove the woman and the trio were lifted out of the riverbed and transported by ambulance to the Opotiki Airfield, more than 30km from the crash scene, as weather conditions prevented the Tauranga-based Trustpower TECT rescue helicopter and Rotorua's BayTrust rescue helicopter from flying into the gorge.

Trustpower TECT helicopter pilot Liam Brettkelly says the car carrying the three left the road, flipped and landed in the river on its wheels.

The police serious crash unit is investigating the crash.

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