KEY POINTS:
Two children survived a head-on collision between a car and a light truck that left a woman and two men dead yesterday.
The children, understood to be aged four and seven, were taken to Waikato Hospital where they were today reported to be in a stable condition. Their injuries were not life threatening.
Inspector Gavin MacDonald, of the police northern communications centre, said the vehicles collided on Gordonton Rd, State Highway 1B, near Taupiri, 26km northwest of Hamilton, at about 5pm.
Initial reports were that two people had died but three people were now confirmed dead, Mr MacDonald said.
Acting Hamilton police spokesman Tony Sasso said initial indications were the truck, heading towards Taupiri with two occupants, crossed the centre line on a bend into the path of the southbound car.
Mr Sasso said the car's male driver and female passenger died at the scene, and another male passenger died later in Waikato Hospital
All were believed to be in their 20s.
Mr Sasso could not confirm the relationship between the children and the dead people.
The truck's occupants suffered no serious injuries.
Police said the crash occurred on a bend but it was too early to say if speed was a factor.
The road was closed for three hours.
The police Serious Crash Unit would return to the scene this morning to continue a scene investigation.
- NZPA
