Three people are in hospital after a serious head-on collision in Eketahuna.
Multiple emergency services responded to the crash – which happened about 50 metres south of the Anzac Bridge on a 100kmh stretch of State Highway 2 –
at 6.45pm on Wednesday.
The highway was closed for at least two hours while emergency personnel attended, and the wreckage of both cars were cleared from the scene.
A rescue helicopter, which landed on the road, transported one patient in a serious condition to Palmerston North Hospital.
A spokesperson for the hospital confirmed the patient was in a stable condition yesterday afternoon.
Police said two patients suffering minor injuries were taken by ambulance to Wairarapa Hospital.
Both Masterton and Eketahuna fire brigades responded to the crash, with Fire and Emergency confirming initial reports of at least one person trapped in the vehicles.
However, Eketahuna chief fire officer Max Meyer said upon arrival, everyone involved had managed to extricate themselves.
He said the cause of the crash was a matter for police, but noted the section of highway south of the bridge had a slight curve, however, there was no obvious reason for why one of the cars crossed the centre line.
Meyer said both cars were written off, and it was fortunate the injuries were not more severe.
“When two cars hit head-on on the open road, it generally ends up a bit uglier than that,” Meyer said.
“It was fortunate that everyone was wearing seatbelts.”
