Police and emergency services are in the Dome Valley attending a head-on crash on State Highway One. Two persons are deceased, and another has been taken to hospital by Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
Police say that about 2.15pm this afternoon a northbound patrol car searching for a stolen vehicle spotted the Mercedes car and its two occupants travelling in the opposite direction on State Highway One.
Further up the Highway the stolen vehicle pulled out to overtake a line of traffic. The Mercedes then collided head-on with a northbound RAV Four vehicle. The police patrol was not in a pursuit at the time of the crash.
The two male occupants of the Mercedes are both deceased. A female occupant in the RAV Four is seriously injured. She has been taken to hospital by the Westpac Helicopter. A car that was travelling behind the RAV Four also became involved in the crash but the driver of this vehicle has escaped injury.
State Highway One is expected to be closed for several hours. There are diversions in place at State Highway One and Kaipara Flats for northbound traffic, and State Highways One and 16 for southbound traffic.
The Serious Crash Unit is now investigating the cause of the crash.
Ends:
Kevin [Kev] Loughlin
District Communications Manager
North Shore/Waitakere/Rodney Police
Telephone: 09-488-9758 - Mobile: 027-281-0271
Email: kevin.loughlin@police.govt.nz