Four injured, one critically, after truck crash north of Levin

Wednesday, 15 September 2021

Emergency services at the scene of a two-truck crash in Horowhenua, where a child has suffered serious injuries.

A man says the scene of a serious multi-vehicle crash in Horowhenua was like a bomb explosion.

Emergency services were called to the crash on State Highway 1, near Kawiu Rd, just north of Levin about 8.40am on Wednesday.

Two ambulances and the Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter had been at the scene and five people were treated, including a child who had serious injuries.

David Hall lives at the corner of Kawiu Rd. He heard multiple loud bangs and ran outside to see the carnage.

Emergency services work to free a person trapped after a multi-vehicle crash in Horowhenua, north of Levin.

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Police divert traffic away from the scene of a two-truck crash in Levin on Wednesday morning.

He said a petrol tanker truck had slowed down before roadworks on SH1 and a logging truck, a few cars back, was unable to stop.

It caused a multi-car pile up into the back of the tanker.

“It was awful. It was like a bomb scene.”

Hall said the weight of the logs had crushed the truck driver’s cab, and trapped him against his steering wheel about 10 feet in the air.

One of the vehicles caught in a serious crash, involving two trucks, north of Levin.

He said the man was screaming for help, but was too high for Hill to do anything.

“It was horrible. To see a guy in the air, and you can't get him out.”

He said an ambulance was driving past, and had been able to stop and help before other emergency services arrived.

There was petrol , vehicle parts and debris all over the road.

“It was a mangled wreck.”

He said it took emergency services about 90 minutes to get the man out of the truck.

“The guy in the truck was in a bad way.”

A petrol tanker involved in the serious crash.

Hall said a family was in one of the cars between the two trucks and had been taken to hospital.

A St John spokeswoman said it treated one person in a critical condition. They were flown to Wellington Hospital.

A Capital and Coast District Health Board spokesman said the patient was in a stable condition in the emergency department.

A spokesman for MidCentral District Health Board said two patients in relation to the crash had been discharged, while two others were being assessed in Palmerston North Hospital and were in a stable condition.

The Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter at the scene of the serious crash, involving multiple vehicles.

A Fire and Emergency spokesman said firefighters were called to the two-truck crash and had worked to free someone who was trapped.

Firefighters had also extinguished a fire on one of the trucks, the Fire and Emergency spokesman said.

Fire engines from Levin and Foxton attended the crash.

The road was reopened at 3.45pm on Wednesday, with a temporary speed limit of 50km/h past the crash site.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency regional transport system manager Ross I’Anson said the patch of road was to be repaired and a site had been set up with signage and appropriate traffic management when the crash occurred.

He said the resealing work was now on hold while police investigated.

“We are unable to provide further comment.”

The transport agency reported the serious crash unit was investigating the crash and the road would be closed for several hours.

Stuff understands a Higgins vehicle also crashed into a paddock on the diversion route.

A St John spokeswoman said they were called at 11.43am to a vehicle incident on Koputaroa Rd and one patient in a serious condition was taken to Palmerston North Hospital.

A police spokesman said, however, no one was injured.

Police asked motorists to be patient and avoid the area.