Twelve injured in two-vehicle crash

SH5 at Rangitaiki is closed after a serious accident.

Twelve people were injured in a head-on collision between an SUV and a van at Rangitaiki, near Taupō on Sunday.

The driver of the van will appear in court this week charged with careless driving causing injury.

The accident happened at about 10:30am.

In a statement Police said 12 people were located injured inside the vehicles, including four that were transported to hospital in a serious condition, and eight people who were transported in minor to moderate condition. 

The road was closed for about three hours while the road was cleared of debris, and enquiries were conducted at the scene.

“Initial enquiries suggest the driver attempted to overtake a vehicle, and has struck the second vehicle head on,” a Police spokesperson alleges.

“The 57-year-old van driver has been summonsed to appear in the Tauranga District Court next week on a charge of careless driving causing injury.”

Several rescue helicopters, St John Ambulance, Police and Fire and Emergency attended the scene.