As five people are being treated for moderate to serious injuries following a crash on a rural highway overnight, Waikato Police are working with Canterbury colleagues to try and locate the family of one young casualty.
Sergeant Damien O'Kane of the Huntly Police said emergency services were called to the head on crash between a north-bound white Holden Commodore and a south-bound Honda Accord on SH39 near the intersection of Kakaramea and Meadway Roads about 11.20pm.
"A 16-year-old female front seat passenger in the Commodore suffered serious injuries in the crash and was taken to Waikato Hospital where she is currently in the hospital's High Dependency Unit.
"A male front seat passenger in the Honda Accord also suffered serious injuries and was trapped in the vehicle for over an hour as fire-fighters worked to free him from the wreckage."
Mr O'Kane said three other people from the Honda suffered moderate to serious injuries and were also taken to hospital by ambulance.
"The Waikato Serious Crash Unit is working to establish the cause of the crash.
"Though unhurt, the driver of the Commodore has plenty to worry about because the vehicle he was driving has been reported stolen from Rolleston outside of Christchurch. When searched, officers found 28 grams of what is believed to be methamphetamine, a pipe and syringes in his property."
Mr O'Kane said the man was already facing drugs charges in Auckland and he is now in custody charged with possession of methamphetamine for supply, possession of utensils and theft of a motor vehicle.
"A priority for our staff now is to work with our Canterbury colleagues to identify and locate family of the injured girl who has not been reported missing."
SH39 was closed for about five hours with diversions put in place while the crash scene was cleared and the collision investigated.
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