Police are investigating a head-on crash on State Highway One, in which two persons are deceased, and another two have been taken to hospital by two Westpac Rescue Helicopters. A fifth person is under medical observation.
Police say that about 2.15pm this afternoon, a northbound patrol car searching for a stolen vehicle, spotted the Mercedes car and its four occupants, travelling in the opposite direction on State Highway One, near the Dome Valley.
Further up the Highway the stolen vehicle pulled out to overtake a line of traffic. The Mercedes then collided head-on with a northbound RAV Four vehicle. The crash happened about half a kilometre from the Kaipara Flats turnoff. The police patrol was some two kilometres behind the Mercedes and not in a pursuit at the time of the crash.
Two male passengers in the Mercedes died at the scene. A third male passenger is in Auckland Hospital after being transported by Westpac Rescue Helicopter. The male driver was not injured but is now under preliminary medical observation.
A female driver in the RAV Four has been seriously injured. She was taken to Auckland hospital by a second Westpac Helicopter. The woman was the sole occupant. A car that was travelling behind the RAV Four also became involved in the crash but the driver of this vehicle has escaped injury.
State Highway One is expected to reopen within an hour. Diversions are still in place at Highway One and Kaipara Flats for northbound traffic, and State Highways One and 16 for southbound traffic. The Serious Crash Unit is investigating the cause of the crash.
Ends:
Kevin [Kev] Loughlin
District Communications Manager
North Shore/Waitakere/Rodney Police
Telephone: 09-488-9758 - Mobile: 027-281-0271