MEDIA RELEASE
WAIKATO POLICE DISTRICT
14 August 2007
At approximately 4pm Monday 13 August a bus heading south towards Thames on SH2 veered right, crossing the centreline and collided with a northbound truck and trailer a short distance from the Red Fox Tavern in Maramarua.
The bus, hired from Ngatea, was carrying 19 female passengers from the Thames Gardening Club who had been on a day trip visiting gardens in Auckland.
During the crash the bus clipped the drivers side of the truck and the impact of the crash caused the bus to turn 180 degree half circle.
The bus came to a halt side on to a bank on the left hand side of the road.
Both the bus driver and truck driver sustained status two injuries (serious but not life threatening) and were airlifted to Auckland Hospital.
The bus driver and one passenger had to be freed from the wreckage by volunteer fire-fighters using cutting equipment.
Two other people were flown to Auckland hospital with status three injuries which included shock, strains and sprains while another 10 people were taken by ambulance to Middlemore Hospital, also with status three injuries.
Four other passengers were taken to Thames Hospital by ambulance while three people escaped the crash uninjured but shaken.
Sergeant Blair Donaldson of Huntly Police said emergency crews from the Fire Service and St John ambulance came from across the district to assist.
"We'd like to thank them all for the jobs that they did which were carried out in a timely and professional manner.
"We'd also like to thank the public for their patience when SH2 was closed and diversions were being put in place," he said.
Mr Donaldson said it was too early to say what or how the crash occurred and further enquiries, including the gathering of witness statements, were continuing.
END