Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Five people have been injured and State Highway 1 was closed for several hours in South Waikato after a serious crash this morning.
Police said two vehicles were involved in the crash at Piarere at about 5.30am.
Five people were seriously injured but the three trapped in the wreckage had since been freed.
St John said five ambulances and two rapid response units attended the scene.
SH1 was closed between Horahora Road and Paparamu Road and police warned of delays.
It is the second serious crash on that stretch of the highway in months.
In November one person died and 14 others were injured after a small bus loaded with international tourists collided with two vehicles.
That crash happened at the northern end of the highway, near Horahora Road.
A resident who lives on the highway, Sheryn Dean, said she has seen the aftermath of multiple crashes including one that was fatal.
She owns Hobbit Hole accommodation just past the scene of the crash.
"I've helped people who have had a number of accidents, most of them have been driver error. Drivers falling asleep, veering off through our fences."
Dean said her property overlooked a 200 kilometre stretch of the highway that was straight and wide but some cars still ended up in paddocks.
