One missing after car crashes off bridge
Five people, including a police officer, are in hospital, and one person is
unaccounted for after a serious crash in Tauranga this evening.
The crash occurred on the Mangatapu Causeway Bridge at approximately 6.10pm
this evening. Three vehicles were involved in the crash which resulted in one
vehicle going off the bridge and into the water.
A male passenger in his 20s managed to get out of the submerged vehicle. A
male police constable jumped into the water to assist him. The pair drifted
some distance and eventually managed to get ashore. They have been taken to
Tauranga Hospital and both are suffering from hypothermia.
A man and a woman in their 30s, and a man in his 40s, were in the two
vehicles that remained on the bridge and they have been taken to hospital
with moderate injuries.
The driver of the submerged vehicle is still unaccounted for and the Police
National Dive Team has been contacted and will be travelling to Tauranga to
assist.
The bridge will remain closed overnight and at least for part of tomorrow.
Diversions are in place.
ends