Police plea after fatal SH3 crash

The Taranaki Community Rescue Helicopter flew 50 missions in the first 51 days of 2019, double the 25 it had flown at the same time in 2018.

A head-on crash which claimed the life of a 27-year-old woman on State Highway Three north of the Awakino Gorge is a reminder for motorists to take more care, police say.

The Serious Crash Unit is investigating what caused a car and a light truck to collide on Wednesday evening near Waitomo and the death has been referred to the coroner.

The Taranaki Community Rescue Helicopter attended and flew a 46-year-old man, who suffered moderate injuries, to Taranaki Base Hospital along with a St John intensive care paramedic.

It was the latest incident in a very busy time for the rescue chopper.

In the first three days of this week the helicopter flew two missions a day.

It undertook 50 missions in the first 51 days of this year, double the 25 it had flown by the same time in 2018.

Police, fire and ambulance staff were alerted to the crash at 6.17pm.

A rescue helicopter from Hamilton also attended.

Three other patients from the crash were flown to Waikato Hospital.

Acting Sergeant Gerhard Jacobs said the light truck had been heading north and the driver was the sole occupant, while the car had been south bound with four occupants.

He said a 27-year-old woman in the car had died as a result of the crash.

‘‘She was travelling from Hamilton to New Plymouth,’’ Jacobs, who didn’t attend the scene, said.

‘‘It appears that somebody crossed the centreline but I don’t know who.’’

Jacobs said the crash was a timely reminder to all drivers.

‘‘Take better care, drive to the conditions and drive safely so you get to your destination in one piece.’’

Rescue helicopter general manager Andy Cronin said they received updates en route to the crash site.

‘‘We get information about the number of patients and their status and it gives us an idea of how significant the event is,’’ Cronin said.

‘‘We are constantly trying to build up a picture of what has happened.’’

Cronin said it had been a busy start to the year and as soon as the chopper arrived back at base on Wednesday it had to fly another patient, needing urgent specialist care, to Auckland.

But despite the hectic time Cronin said the role was hugely rewarding.

‘‘At the fatality we helped someone out of that, then we have helped someone access medical treatment that’s not available locally.

‘‘It costs a lot of money to provide this service but it genuinely makes a difference to people.’’

Cronin said the Taranaki community deserved a great deal of credit for its continued support of the service.

‘‘It genuinely is the heart of what we do – we help people and the community helps us help people.

‘‘Not everyone can be a pilot or a paramedic or a crew member but people can make a contribution in their own way.’’