Two dead, two injured in serious crash on SH1 in South Waikato

Monday, 29 October 2018

Bystanders handed out jackets and blankets to victims involved in a deadly car crash that claimed two lives in the Waikato.

Two people died and another two suffered critical and serious injuries in the crash on State Highway 1, south of Tokoroa.

Two cars crashed on the highway near Ōhākuri, about 35km south of Tokoroa, just after 5pm on Monday.

The crash is understood to have happened about halfway up a hill a kilometre south of the Thorpe Rd intersection.

Two people, believed to be from the same car, died at the scene.

Another man in that car was trapped in the backseat and had to be cut out by Taupō firefighters.

He was then flown to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition by one of two rescue helicopters that landed at the scene.

Taupō road policing manager Senior Sergeant Fane Troy, who attended Monday's crash, confirmed two cars were involved but it was too early to say what had happened.

'We will look at the environment, roading factors and drivers as part of the investigation.'

Several people stopped at the scene to help those that were injured, Troy said, providing blankets and clothing to victims.

'Police would also like to thank members of the public who stopped and assisted at the scene in the immediate aftermath of the crash.

'At the end of the day once we cleaned up the scene there were some jackets and blankets that we need to find owners for, we'd like to return them and thank those people so if they can contact us that would be great.'

He could not provide any details on those who died until a formal identification had taken place.

A St John spokesperson said two people were flown to Waikato Hospital separately by the Waikato Westpac Rescue and Taupō Greenlea Rescue helicopters in a critical and serious condition.

Another person was taken by road in a moderate condition to Rotorua Hospital.

Tokoroa fire chief Dave Morris said the brigade was called to provide assistance to Taupō firefighters, helping with scene protection and assisting with traffic.

With downpours through the afternoon the road had been wet, he said, but it wasn't known whether that was a factor.  

'We have attended accidents on that stretch of road before but there's nothing wrong with the road.

'You need to drive to conditions - we've had a big dry spell and then some rain.'

Police shut down the highway for more than four hours while they cleared the scene.

'When your on a journey make sure you're refreshed, take a break regularly, and also if anyone does see dangerous driving please contact police so we can go out there and stop those people driving on our roads,' Troy said.

Police were appealing for any witnesses to the crash to contact Taupō police on 07 378 6060.

The Serious Crash Unit is investigating.