A woman is in Tauranga Hospital receiving treatment for neck and back injuries sustained in a car crash on State Highway 2 soon before 5pm on Tuesday.

The crash at the intersection of State Highway 2 and Minden Road in Te Puna involved three vehicles; a hatchback, a station wagon and a four wheel drive.

Two of the cars involved in the State Highway 2 accident.

A witness says initially the crash was a collision between the hatchback and the station wagon.

He says this occurred when one vehicle was turning from Te Puna Road onto State Highway 2 and collided with a vehicle travelling toward Katikati on the state highway.

The third vehicle then collided with the crashed cars.