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Serious Crash

Friday 14 September 2012, 5:36PM

By New Zealand Police

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WHITIANGA

Road still partially closed following crash near Whitianga

SH25 South of Whitianga is now open for two lanes but caution is required following a head on collision between two cars this afternoon.

Two people have already been airlifted to Waikato Hospital and the Westpac rescue helicopter is returning to uplift a third, whilst three others are being transported to Thames hospital by road.

Their conditions are not able to be confirmed at this stage.

Senior Sergeant Graham Shields from the Thames / Coromandel Police stated that Whitianga is expecting a large influx of people this weekend for the annual Scallop Festival.

We've done a lot of planning to make this a safe weekend for everyone and an accident like this so early in the weekend is an unpleasant reminder that it's still up to motorists themselves to do the right thing.  Slow down, wear your seatbelt, don't drink and drive, have a rest if you are tired.

Mr Shields stated that extra Police would be stationed at Whitianga over the weekend including booze bus and event policing staff.  'We will be making ourselves as visible as possible in an effort to deter people from engaging in behaviour that spoils it for others'.