Southbound lanes of key State Highway 1 near Hamilton were closed for more than hour late this morning after a three-car crash put six people into Waikato Hospital's emergency treatment centre.
Four Japanese, two men and two women in their early 20s, and an elderly couple from Otorohanga, were being treated and assessed by emergency staff this afternoon.
Hospital authorities said two of the young women were in a serious condition.
Police said early indications were that one car crossed the centre line into the path of oncoming vehicles. Three cars were eventually involved.
The accident occurred at Horotiu, about 15km northwest of Hamilton.
The hospital said of the elderly couple that the driver, 74, was in a stable condition while his wife, 72, was still being assessed.
People in the third car in the crash were not hurt.
