“It was all black ice – and that s***’s pretty deadly”, Te Hau told the Gisborne Herald.
One of the van passengers had walked further up the road to warn motorists of the black ice ahead.
Te Hau heard another car approaching as he arrived at the scene.
“It was too late … everything just happened so fast”.
One of the men in the video is heard yelling; “Tell him to slow down”.
Seconds later, the car slid off the road, backwards into a ditch.
Another man on the scene took the video and Te Hau shared it to a community Facebook group.
The 45-second video of the crash has been shared more than 400 times. Photo / Ngamanaaki Te Hau
In the caption, he warns motorists to be “extremely cautious” of black ice build-up, “especially on the south side of Wharerātā summit”.
The 45-second video has been shared more than 400 times.
Te Hau hopes the video will raise awareness of dangers on the stretch.
“There were a lot of cars that were coming down pretty fast, and that bloody road there is pretty notorious for, you know, the black ice. I’ve been travelling that road for years,” Te Hau said.
“It was just fortunate enough that someone had captured that moment because there have been so [many] incidents along there and no one’s recorded it.”
After the crash he witnessed, Te Hau raced to his car and drove further up the road to get reception to call emergency services.
He waved down incoming motorists to warn them about the black ice ahead.
One Facebook user commented; “Wow, that’s scary stuff. Where are the signs warning motorists?”.
“So pleased that everyone is alright … definitely need better signage telling people to slow down in that area on icy mornings,” wrote another.
Te Hau said he did not see any signage, aside from a “slippery when wet” sign.
Martin Colditz, the Hawke’s Bay/Tairāwhiti area manager for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, said it was aware of the potential of black ice on parts of SH2 – particularly in the Wharerātā area.
“Losing traction and crashing is traumatic and we extend our sympathies to everyone involved in the weekend’s crash,” Colditz said.
NZTA uses static and digital signage in the Wharerātā area. The latter is triggered when temperatures hit 3C.
“If the application thresholds are met, our local contractor will spray calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) before the ice forms as a preventative measure, and in certain situations we will consider road closures,” he said.
“In icy conditions, drivers are urged to reduce their speeds – especially if travelling in the early hours – increase their following distances and avoid sudden braking or turning movements.
“Ice is more likely to form in places such as bridges and shaded areas, and black ice can be harder to spot.”
Te Hau wants the road to be repaired – particularly large potholes and slip debris – to prevent future accidents.
“It could have been worse, and that road needs to be fixed,” he said.
“It’s just a matter of time before someone seriously gets hurt.”
Fire and emergency services were alerted to three cars off the road on Wharerātā Rd at 8.47am on Sunday.
A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said nine people were assessed, and some had minor injuries.