Update on yesterday's SH3 crash Te Kuiti

A woman injured in a head-on collision on SH3 outside Te Kuiti yesterday afternoon was transferred to Waikato Hospital overnight.

The woman was travelling as a front-seat passenger in a northbound Mazda saloon that first crashed into a turning truck and trailer unit then careered into the path of a southbound Honda Civic at the intersection of SH3 and Oparure Rd about 2pm.

Suffering critical injuries in the crash the woman was originally taken to Te Kuiti Hospital before being driven by ambulance to Waikato Hospital.

Poor weather conditions at the time of the crash prohibited the use of an air ambulance helicopter to transport her to Hamilton.

The 17-year-old woman is currently in a critical condition in Waikato Hospital's Intensive Care Unit, an elderly Taumarunui couple travelling in the Honda Civic are currently recovering from their injuries in another ward of the hospital.

The couple's seven and nine-year-old grandchildren were shaken but unhurt in the crash and taken through to Hamilton overnight.

The Waikato Serious Crash Unit is investigating the crash.