The scene where a person is trapped in a car after it collided with a truck in Whakamarama. Photo/Ruth Keber
UPDATED 7.30pm
Tauranga Police Sergeant Scott Merritt has confirmed that the front seat passenger of the vehicle, an unknown male has died at the scene while the driver and rear seat passenger have been transported to Tauranga Hospital with moderate injuries.
The driver of the truck appears to be uninjured.
Police currently have diversions in place and urge motorists to avoid the area as delays will be expected while Police work to re-open the road.
7.12pm:
A man has died after a car and truck collided on Plummers Point Road, Whakamarama this evening.
A blue Subaru was travelling towards State Highway 2 when it collided with a truck heading in the opposite direction.
The truck driver and two passengers in the Subaru have been taken to Tauranga hospital.
Tauranga police sergeant Nigel Ramsden said the cause of the accident was not known but did not rule out speed, alcohol or drugs.
The truck travelling away from the highway was carrying flowers.
A Whakamarama man, who did not want to be identified, said he hadn't seen a crash as bad as this for several years.
Having lived in the property for 43 years he had never seen a fatally on the road yet had seen a number of serious crashes.
6:12: Traffic at the scene of a serious crash at Whakamarama is being diverted through neighbouring farmland.
A reporter at the scene said cars were being diverted through neighbouring property as the scene of the crash between a car and truck has been blocked off.
A police communications spokesman said a person trapped in the car was critically injured.
Serious crash unit investigators are at the scene.
5:51pm: A person remains trapped and a driver is being treated after a crash in Whakamarama this afternoon.
A fire service spokesman said the passenger of a car which collided with a truck on Plummers Point Rd about 5.25pm remained trapped in the vehicle.
Firefighters were working to free the person.
The driver of the car was being treated and the driver of the truck appeared to be unhurt, he said.
The crash follows the death of a French man who died when the car he was travelling in collided with a truck on State Highway 2 near Omokoroa.
EARLIER: Emergency services have been called to a collision involving a truck and car in Whakamarama.
The collision occurred about 5.25pm on Plummers Point Rd.
Firefighters have been called out as it understood people are trapped.
A Fire services communication spokesperson said the collision occurred on the section of road where the railway crossing is.
More soon.
The newly upgraded Waitaha Reserve has been officially opened in Welcome Bay, Tauranga.