Take Care On Holiday Routes

Posted by Waikato Police on 24/01/2012

Waikato Police are urging drivers to take care on popular holiday travel routes after a serious crash in the Coromandel left a woman fighting for her life in an Auckland hospital overnight.

District Road Policing Manager, Inspector Leo Tooman, said Police were disappointed drivers were not heeding the warnings with this crash occurring just three days after a motor cyclist lost his life in the same area, on the same road.

"Yesterday's crash happened about 5pm on SH25 at Orongo near the Kopurahi Community Hall 5km west of the Kopu Bridge and involved a collision between a west bound light Isuzu truck and a Ford Laser car.

"The crash is still under investigation by the Serious Crash Unit however it appears the driver of the laser has come out of a driveway into the west bound lane- heading east and has then performed a U-turn in front of the oncoming truck."

The 33-year-old female driver of the car was extracted from her vehicle by fire fighters before being airlifted to an Auckland hospital by helicopter in a critical condition, the two occupants of the truck were shaken but unhurt in the crash.

Mr Tooman said until a crash examination had been completed it was difficult to access all the contributing factors of the incident but it is concerning to Police that three of the four Waikato road deaths this year have been on approach roads to, or in, the Coromandel.

"We had the fatal collision on SH2 by Steen Rd on January 10 then we've had two fatal motor cycle crashes last week on SH25A and SH25, with this latest crash we need to remind people of the need for the utmost care on our roads.

"With the next two weekends being holiday weekends we can again expect greater than usual traffic volumes on routes leading to and from our popular holiday spots and we implore drivers to ensure both they and their vehicles are fit for the road."

Meanwhile crash investigators are returning to the scene of Friday's fatal motor cycle crash on SH25 near Tairua to continue their scene examination, some delays can be expected and traffic management will be in place.