Tourists seriously injured in logging truck crash
Two overseas tourists were airlifted to Waikato Hospital with serious injuries after logging truck hit the side of their car in the Karangahake Gorge.
Sergeant Phil Caldwell, of Paeroa police, said shortly after 12pm the car was turning right out of a Tintersection to travel on to SH2 towards Paeroa. A truck and trailer heading towards Waihi had tried to swerve away from the car but had hit it side-on.
The truck smashed through a barrier and stopped on the bank of the Ohinemuri River.
The woman driver of the car was in the more serious condition. Her passenger was also badly injured.
The driver of the Provincial Freightlines truck was also taken to Waikato Hospital.
The three injured people were transported by the Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance and an Auckland-based helicopter.