Lucky five survive crash at Akerama | Northland News | Local News in Northland

Five people are lucky not to have  been seriously injured when their car and a truck-and-trailer unit crashed at the notorious Akerama Bends north of Whangarei.

The crash happened  about 5.20pm on Thursday on State Highway  1 near Hukerenui, just south of the Akerama Rd turnoff. Kawakawa Fire Brigade Deputy Chief Annette Wynyard said the crash was "quite a nasty one". The truck's cab had ended up on a bank with the trailer jack-knifed across one lane.

All five young people in the Mitsubishi Galant and the truck driver were out of their vehicles when emergency services arrived. One young male passenger was taken to Whangarei Hospital.

The highway was busy at the time so the brigade's first task was to cone off the scene and  control  the traffic.

The Kawakawa brigade spent more than two hours at the  scene, backed up by firefighters from Towai and Hikurangi.

Ms Wynyard said a wet, slippery road may have contributed to the crash.

"The message is to always drive to the conditions," she said.

Last year Northland coroner Brandt Shortland - conducting an inquest into the deaths of two Korean tourists at the Akerama Bends in September 2007 - called on roading authorities to straighten the S-bend or put up clear warning signs. The New Zealand Transport Agency erected signs and safety railings  but has no immediate plans to straighten the road.