Five die in fiery two-car crash

Five people have died after a horror two-car collision on State Highway 1 north of Taupo this afternoon.

Four people are thought to have been killed in one vehicle, with one person killed in the other vehicle. The fire service was called just before 4pm, fire service spokesman Steve Smith said.

Another person is in a serious condition in Waiakto Hospital.

Teenagers are thought to be among the dead.

The accident happened about 20km north of Taupo. Diversions were put in place from Tirohanga road SH1 from the north of the accident and
Oruanui from the South.

A passenger in a car also died north of Taihape this morning after the driver apparently did not give way at an intersection, police said.

Another passenger in the car was injured and the driver of the other vehicle was also taken to hospital.

The dead person, a woman, was a Chinese student from Palmerston North, and was travelling with two other Chinese students, Youthtown Trust Rescue Helicopter pilot Hendry de Waal said.

The accident happened about 11.45am on a stretch of State Highway 1 called the Taihape Deviation. Everyone appeared to be wearing seatbelts.

"Initial inquiries suggest that the vehicle that the deceased was in failed to give way at an intersection," Inspector Marty Parker said.

Police inquiries were continuing.


- NZPA