UPDATE 2.35pm: One man is dead and another is in Tauranga Hospital after a car crashed with a mobile library bus on Welcome Bay Road this morning.
The stretch of road where the crash happened near Faith Bible College remains closed as police continue to examine the scene.
Police say early indications are that a red Holden Astra lost control and crossed the centre line after rounding a bend.
The car then collided with the bus, which was travelling in the opposite direction.
The male passenger of the Astra, believed to be in his 20s and from Tauranga, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver, also aged 20, was taken to hospital, where he is reported in a stable condition. The bus driver was unhurt.
Diversions remain in place and police are working to reopen the road as soon as possible.
Any witnesses to the accident, or who saw the Holden Astra prior to the crash, are asked to contact Constable Peter Simmons at Tauranga Police Station on: 07 577 4300.
Earlier:
One man has died and another has been injured after a mobile library bus and a car crashed on Welcome Bay Road, near Faith Bible College this morning.
The driver of the car has been taken to Tauranga Hospital, while the passenger has been pronounced dead at the scene.
The car, which was travelling towards Welcome Bay when the collision happened, is reported to be a red Holden Astra.
SunLive understands that the driver of the Tauranga City Council mobile library bus is unhurt.
Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager Senior Sergeant Ian Campion says: 'The bus is a mobile library bus and had no passengers. It is not a school bus or passenger bus.”
'The road will be closed for some time and we ask people to avoid the area where possible.”
Diversions are in place on Welcome Bay Road at Water Lane and Kairua Road.
Tauranga City Council staff were described as 'shocked and saddened' on hearing the news of this morning's fatal crash, with chief executive Garry Poole saying: 'Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those involved.”
Council staff have been on site to offer any assistance required and will continue to do so.
Keep checking SunLive for more updates.
10 comments
Terrible corner
Posted on 22-10-2014 13:56 | By earthmover
This corner has always been extremely dangerous,particularly when it's a bit wet.needs urgent attention ,has done for a long time,council need to get their priorities sorted with regards to what parts of what roads get improvements/maintenance.
Where does the fault lay?
Posted on 22-10-2014 16:16 | By maildrop
The corner is perfectly fine if taken at the correct speed for the conditions. I have driven it hundreds of times in all weathers, never crashed or skidded. Not the roads fault.
Sad...
Posted on 22-10-2014 17:41 | By penguin
...that it is for all concerned, at least two thoughts spring to mind. 1. There is a warning/advisory sign for this bend regardless of what one thinks about the profile of the bend. 2. The road was wet (per photo). Therefore driving to the conditions is essential. We cannot always blame the road configuration for crashes.
Terrible Driving
Posted on 22-10-2014 19:54 | By Dr Phil
I travel this route often and amazed at the drivers that exceed the limit of 60 by the school and 80 elsewhere, there is very little wrong with the road, as usual its the cavalier attitude of the drivers who continue to break the limit and take corners wide because of it. Wake up NZ Drivers and get your **** together, stop blaming anything and everything for your poor driving skills..
Separate issue perhaps?...
Posted on 22-10-2014 20:53 | By groutby
This piece of road has been this way for awhile now, and perhaps we should "be driving to the conditions",most are very aware of the issues contained in this piece of road. There may well be work to be done along the road which may or may not be the responsibility of the council....but, we drive to the conditions and hope the passenger vehicle was in good mechanical repair. My thoughts are with the bus driver as well as the family of the deceased...very, very sad.
Awful Tragedy
Posted on 22-10-2014 23:09 | By SF
My partner and I drive this road almost daily and as soon as we heard the area of the accident we knew which corner it would have been. The surface on that corner is treacherous, even in dry weather. As my partner says, you have to try and pick the right path to avoid being shuddered off the road or across the centre line, all the while watching for the constant pot holes that open and are then haphazardly patched. It was only a matter of time before something awful like this happened on that road. Hopefully something will be done to regularly maintain this corner now, although it shouldn't have taken this to draw attention to how dire that section of road is. Our thoughts are with the people and families involved.
earthmover
Posted on 23-10-2014 08:38 | By whatsinaname
agree with everyones comments except earth mover. There are speed limit signs . drive to the conditions. thoughts go to the families concerned of the man that died and also the bus driver.............
LOGGING TRUCKS
Posted on 23-10-2014 10:55 | By Colleen Spiro
In the past year, I have seen a rising amount of logging trucks using Welcome Bay Road....WHY, I wouldn't know...INSANE and dangerous through a residential area. Must be turning off at Papamoa end....Can't be helping with the state of the road
Very sorry but.....
Posted on 23-10-2014 11:06 | By Bruja
The road isn't 'terrific' but then a lot of country roads aren't. I certainly don't think that corner is any worse than a LOT of others. I'm very sorry for both drivers and the passenger but we simply have to 'slow down' and drive to the conditions. :(
Main Road
Posted on 23-10-2014 15:42 | By kopchai
I grew up in Welcome Bay area in the 1950s when this road was the main road between Te Puke and Tauranga. I have travelled it thousands of times and if you drive to the conditions..No problem. There are a few tricky corners eg. two just south of the hot pools. If you drive sensibly NOT speeding no worries.
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