Waikato Police seek witnesses to Coromandel crash

Waikato Police investigating a three vehicle collision near Whitianga overnight are appealing for any of the several members of the public who stopped to give assistance, who haven't already spoken to Police, to make contact with them.

Senior Constable Graham Fitzpatrick of the Waikato Serious Crash Unit said he and his fellow investigators are working to build up an understanding on the cause of the crash.

"Initial indications are that at about 5.45pm the female driver of a Nissan Bluebird car travelling from Whitianga on SH25 has gone to turn off the highway on to Mill Creek Rd when an Isuzu Bighorn SUV travelling in the same direction has collided with the rear of the car.

"The impact of this collision appears to have shunted the car into the opposite lane resulting in a collision with an oncoming Holden Colorado utility."

Mr Fitzpatrick said a four-year-old girl travelling as a passenger in the car was injured in the crash and was airlifted to Auckland's Starship Hospital in a serious, but stable condition.

"The pregnant driver of the car suffered minor injuries and was also airlifted to hospital as a precaution. The drivers of both 4WD vehicles were shaken but uninjured in the crash.

"Attending emergency service personnel acknowledged the work done by several members of the public who assisted the casualties before they arrived, in particular off-duty medical staff. Police would like to hear from any of these Good Samaritans who haven't already been interviewed by Police."

Mr Fitzpatrick said due to heavy traffic flows Police believed there may be many more people who witnessed the crash than they have so far spoken to and for that reason investigators are asking those people to contact the Whitianga Police.
"The challenge for us is many motorists in this area are visitors or maybe even overseas tourists and we need to speak to them before they leave for home or head out of the country.

"For that reason we're asking that if you saw something then do something, ring Sergeant Andrew Morrison of the Whitianga Police on 07 866 4000."

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