On Wednesday morning the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter, Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter and ECT Rescue Helicopter were all dispatched to Awakeri on the outskirts of Whakatane.
The three rescue helicopter crews were tasked to a two-car motor vehicle accident on State Highway 30. Upon arrival at the scene, it was identified that 2 patients were in critical condition and the other two were in serious condition.
The Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter flew a critical 17-year-old female to Waikato Hospital, while the ECT Rescue Helicopter flew another seriously injured female patient to Tauranga Hospital. A male in serious condition was taken by road to Whakatane Hospital.