Three hospitalised following Expressway crash

At least three people have been taken to hospital following an accident on the Hawke's Bay expressway near the Meeanee overbridge at Taradale.

A crash between a truck and a car just before 8 this morning left the Napier-Hastings Expressway blocked and later closed causing traffic back-ups of more than 2km on both sides.

The crash happened between Links Rd and Pakowhai Rd and saw the husband and wife occupants of the truck and a woman in her 20s who had been driving the car taken to Hawke's Bay Hospital with what were described as moderate injuries.

The car was left badly damaged and the truck had overturned.

It is understood the husband and wife, in their 50s, were returning home to Palmerston North.

The crash also led to a minor collision between three vehicles caught up in the backed-up line of traffic. None of the occupants were injured.

The expressway reopened about 9:30am.