A horror crash on Kaeo Hill has claimed the lives of two young Northland men overnight.
The smash occurred on State Highway 10 south of Kaeo at 12.15am today.
It is understood the driver of a car heading south up the hill lost control, went into a spin and collided with a ute travelling downhill.
The car, which was carrying two young male passengers, was shunted into a gully. The driver and front-seat passenger were dead when emergency services arrived.
The rear passenger suffered back injuries but managed to climb out of the wreck by himself.