Eleven hurt in Auckland crash

Eleven people have been injured - one critically - in a horror three-car smash in west Auckland this evening.

Police said children were among the injured and one vehicle - a minivan - had plunged down a 20 metre bank.

Three of those injured in the 6.15pm crash on State Highway 16 near Waimauku were in a serious condition, Inspector Shawn Rutene, of Auckland, said.

St John staff were still assessing the conditions of the remaining occupants.

The critically injured person had been airlifted to hospital, Insp Rutene said.

Fire communications shift manager Colin Underdown said volunteer firefights from Kumeu and Helensville were at the scene and were helping free a person trapped in one of the vehicles.

Insp Rutene said the crash occurred when a vehicle collided with minivan travelling in the opposite direction, before veering away and striking another vehicle.

Meanwhile, the minivan went down a 20 metre bank before coming to a stop, he said.

Police had closed SH16 between Muriwai and Kiwitahi roads.

Caltex Waimauku staff member Sam Miller said shaken customers had told him of the aftermath of the crash.

"It's horrible. We've been having so many out here."

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