One feared dead after serious crash, police officer in hospital

BREAKING NEWS: 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.

more to follow...