30 Jul 2022

Crashes in Waikato and Taranaki slow traffic, leave one dead

2:55 pm on 30 July 2022

Crashes in Waikato and New Plymouth have left one person dead, blocked roads, and left a car on its roof beside a busy highway.

The crash scene, near Karapiro Village on State Highway 1 in Waikato.

A car crash today left a car upside down on State Highway 1 near Karapiro Village in Waikato. Photo: RNZ/ Priti Garude

An RNZ reporter said crews from two fire trucks, and police were working at the scene of a crash near Karapiro Village, on State Highway 1, in Waikato.

A car had been badly damaged in the crash, as was a section of median barrier on the road.

State Highway 1 traffic at the scene was backed up about 1.5km just before 2pm, she said.

Police said nobody had been injured in the collision, but the car was blocking the southbound lane and traffic was being diverted past it.

Earlier this morning, police said a driver crashed into a parked car just before 7am on Liardet Street in central New Plymouth.

The driver was the only person in the car, and died at the scene.

The road has now been reopened.

The crash scene, near Karapiro Village on State Highway 1 in Waikato.

Emergency services working at the scene of the crash near Karapiro Village this afternoon. Photo: RNZ/ Priti Garude

Police said just after 10am today, a truck rolled at the intersection of State Highway 25 and State Highway 2, at Waitakaruru, Waikato.

As the truck rolled, a container it was hauling collided with another car at the intersection.

The driver of the truck was trapped in their vehicle after the crash.

"However initial indications are the occupants of the car are not seriously injured," the police statement said.

Motorists have been asked to avoid the area.

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