Waikato Police investigating a crash near Pirongia yesterday afternoon that left three people, including an 18-month-old baby, seriously injured are appealing for the driver of a third car to come forward.
Senior Sergeant Dave Simes of the Te Awamutu Police said the crash happened about 4.30pm on Te Pahu Rd near the village of the same name between Corcoran and Limeworks Roads.
"Two vehicles, a Toyota Corolla and a Nissan Avenir, collided head-on causing significant damage to both vehicles."
Mr Simes said investigators were particularly keen to hear from the driver of a southbound car that stopped briefly just past the crash scene before driving off.
"The car is described as a white or cream coloured sedan, the driver may hold information pivotal to investigation and we're very keen for this person to contact us."
Mr Simes said several locals did a lot of good work at the scene before emergency services arrived and it was important this was acknowledged.
"It was a very serious situation, fire-fighters were needed to extract the 16-year-old male driver of the Toyota and he is currently in a serious but stable condition in Waikato Hospital's Intensive Care Unit."
Cutting equipment also had to be used to extract the 37-year-old female driver of the Nissan and her 18-month-old baby, all of the injured are from Te Pahu.
The mother was operated on overnight and is reported to be in a stable condition while the baby was flown by air ambulance to Auckland's Starship Hospital.
Anyone with any information on the crash or the identity of the driver of the third vehicle is asked to contact the Te Awamutu Police Station on 07 8720100.
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