Five injured in five-car crash

An 81-year-old Richmond man was taken to Nelson Hospital with serious head and neck injuries after a five-car pile-up on Main Rd, Stoke, last evening.

The nose-to-tail accident happened in the north-bound lane of the road between Link and Saxton roads about 5.30pm. Both lanes of the road were shut for more than an hour-and-a-half and traffic was backed up on Whakatu Dr.

St John Ambulance operations team manager Jon Leach said a 20-year-old Brightwater woman was taken to hospital with moderate to serious leg, shoulder and abdomen injuries.

Mr Leach said three others, a 43-year-old Richmond man, a 50-year-old Stoke woman and a 40-year-old Richmond woman, were taken to hospital with neck pains.

Mr Leach said five children were involved in the crash, but they left the scene and went on to sport. Two of those children were later taken to hospital by their parents, he said.

Nelson Hospital spokeswoman Katherine Rock said the 81-year-old man was this morning in a stable condition and the 20-year-old woman was treated and discharged last night.

Mr Leach said the 81-year-old's car was somehow pushed across the road into a culvert, and he had to be extracted from the car.

The ambulance also required help from firefighters to get the 20-year-old woman from another car, but she was not cut out, he said.

Constable Anita Pearless of Richmond said inquiries into the crash were continuing.

- © Fairfax NZ News