Remutaka Hill was closed for almost two hours yesterday after a head-on collision at the summit temporarily blocked SH2.
Emergency responders were called to the two-vehicle crash that entangled a third car and resulted in one of the vehicles catching fire, at around 9.30am.
Police arrived first at the scene at about 9.45am, and NZTA Waka Kotahi officially confirmed SH2 Remutaka Hill was closed as a result of the crash at 10.10am.
One of the assisting officers said that speed was possibly a factor as one vehicle had come around a corner and hit another head-on.
After one of the vehicles involved in the incident caught fire, police attempted to douse the flames with an extinguisher but had to leave it to the attending fire crew from Featherston to put out when it became too intense.
Featherston Fire Chief Colin McKenna confirmed that his crew attended the scene, put out the car fire with water, and helped clean up.
McKenna noted that it had been raining before the crash and that the wet weather would have brought oil to the road surface, making it slippery – something that could have contributed to the crash.
He said everybody had vacated their respective vehicles before the fire crew arrived.
A Wellington Free Ambulance spokesperson said that four patients were transported to Hutt Hospital, two with mild injuries and two in moderate condition.
The hospital services team later confirmed that all four patients were in a “stable and satisfactory” condition.
SH2 Remutaka Hill was re-opened to the public shortly before 12pm.
Before this, motorists were advised to take a detour via SH1, SH57, and Pahiatua Aokautere Rd, that added an additional three hours to travel times.
It needs a safety wire in the middle like between Masterton and carterton. Come on NZTA.