Hawke’s Bay vehicle fire near Pākōwhai extinguished, highway reopens
A car fire closed a key stretch of a Hawke’s Bay highway this evening.
Emergency services were called to the incident near the Ngaruroro River Bridge at Pākōwhai, about 10km southwest of Napier.
Police said they found the car “fully engulfed” and blocking both lanes.
All occupants managed to escape safely, a spokesperson said.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand shift manager said one crew responded and the blaze had been extinguished.
State Highway 2 between Pākōwhai Rd and Evenden Rd was earlier closed.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said the stretch had since reopened.