Two people have died after two vehicles collided on a notorious stretch of road in Meeanee, Hawke's Bay.
It was the seventh fatal crash on Sandy Rd in the past 12 years.
A police spokesman said two people died in the accident and a third person was seriously injured.
The Serious Crash Unit was in attendance and northbound traffic was diverted at Sandy and Brookfield roads. Southbound traffic used Brookfield and Meeanee roads.
A witness at the scene compared the vehicles to ''crumpled tin cans''.