A witness has described seeing a vehicle driving down the wrong side of a Wellington motorway shortly before a serious crash that left four people injured.

Emergency services are at the scene of a two-vehicle collision on the Wellington Urban motorway, heading northbound, on the fly-over between Molesworth St and the Aotea on-ramp.

Police were told about the incident about 4.20am.

Part of the motorway is expected to be closed for several hours.

A woman driving to work told the Herald she saw a car driving on the wrong side of the motorway.

“My co-worker was also coming to work at this time and saw far more than me – (he) was trying to signal the driver to turn around.”

The woman said her colleague had seen the car get onto the motorway via the Petone entrance before it “sped off”.

Desperate attempt to alert drivers

“(My colleague) was trying to alert on coming drivers by flashing high beams and hazard lights.”

The woman got off the Aotea off-ramp and did not see another vehicle.

“The crash seems to have happened just after that,” she said.

“It would’ve been just before 4.30am as that is when I started work.”

The woman said her colleague suspected there was a possibility the driver going down the wrong side of the motorway had become confused about where they were going.

Police said two people were travelling in each vehicle involved and that they have sustained injuries.The extent of their injuries are not yet known.

Police alerted the public via its Facebook page just after 5am – telling people to avoid the area completely.

“Police are requesting people leaving Wellington avoid using the motorway or delay their travel.”

Diversions are now in place for northbound traffic at the Tinakori off-ramp. Access to the motorway is closed at Molesworth St and Tinakori Rd.

People driving southbound into Wellington are also asked to “travel with care” particularly as they go past the crash site.

Source: Read Full Article