Three people are in hospital, one with suspected spinal injuries, after two vehicles collided on State Highway 38 near Lake Rotoiti in Bay of Plenty.
Police said the accident occurred at 9.30pm yesterday and resulted in one vehicle being torn in two.
A rescue helicopter took a 20-year-old man to Rotorua Hospital where he was said to be in a comfortable condition.
Two other people were taken by ambulance to the hospital.