Hundred of commuters and busloads of school children were late today as highway crashes north and south of the city blocked lanes.
A crash between two vehicles north of Katikati near Tanners Point reduced State Highway 2 to one lane from about 7.20am. A second crash on SH29 south of the Welcome Bay roundabout a short time later also reduced traffic to one lane causing long tailbacks.

The scene at Hairini.

One person was taken to hospital from each scene. A 45 year old woman was taken from the Welcome Bay crash with moderate injuries. A 21 year old man from Tanners Point. His condition is described as serious this morning.
At Welcome Bay, a car and a ute collided on the bend beside the gravel pit with damage to both vehicles on the driver's side.

The Tanner Point crash was also between a car and a ute, says senior constable Lindsay Freeman from Katikati police. A 21 year old man was taken to Tauranga Hospital with chest injuries.
That accident happened when a 4x4 ute pulled out onto the highway and a Toyota Corolla travelling south, collided. The injured man was driving the car.