Pedestrian seriously injured in Bay of Plenty vehicle crash

A pedestrian sustained serious injuries following a crash involving a car on State Highway 33 in Paengaroa on Tuesday morning. Hato Hone St John was called to the scene at 9.17am and transported the patient to Tauranga Hospital by helicopter in a serious condition.

Police are searching for a driver who allegedly left the scene before emergency services arrived. One witness reported seeing a car being followed by a ute on Wilson Rd South, which then made contact with the car near the SH33 intersection before both vehicles fled towards Rotorua. Another witness suggested the incident may have been a hit-and-run caused by road rage.

The Serious Crash Unit was notified, and the highway was closed between Maungarangi Rd and Old Coach Rd. While one report stated the road was expected to be closed for some time, the highway was reopened by 12.20pm.

Where reports differ

• Reports differ on the exact time the road reopened, with one stating it was closed until around 1pm and another stating it reopened at 12.20pm.

Compiled from reports by RNZ, Stuff and NZ Herald.