A fatal crash has blocked State Highway 1 south of Levin - with police warning motorists of lengthy delays.
A number of people have been injured in the crash between a truck and a car around 1.55pm, with the driver of the truck involved swerving to avoid an oncoming vehicle before the fatal crash, the haulage company said.
Police confirmed one person died after the crash this afternoon.
"The circumstances of the crash will be subject to investigation," a police statement said.
SH1 has reopened with a reduced speed limit, but it will close again at 10pm Sunday evening so that haulage truck can be removed, which make take "several hours".
On the Hilton Haulage Ltd Facebook page, general manger Alle McGrath said one of the company's drivers, David McNeill, was involved in the fatal accident.
"David has not been seriously injured, however, there has been a fatality in another vehicle (following a suspected medical event)."
The truck driver swerved, went over a bank and crashed into a cemetery in an attempt to avoid an oncoming car that had crossed the centreline, McGrath said.
Emergency services were at the scene of the crash at SH1, Manakau, near Kuku Beach Rd.
The crash near Levin. Photo / Supplied
The road was closed but has since reopened, NZTA said.
"The road will be closing again at 10pm for full vehicle recovery," NZTA tweeted.
UPDATE 5:20PM Following a serious crash, #SH1 Ohau is now OPEN under traffic management. Take extra care & continue to expect DELAYS in both directions. The road will be CLOSING again at 10pm for full vehicle recovery. Please plan ahead and drive safe. ^CR https://t.co/6EphNFXe35
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Central North Island (@WakaKotahiCNI) December 22, 2019
UPDATE 3:30PM#SH1 Ohau remains CLOSED. A tow is on site for vehicle recovery & crews are working on restoring downed lines. We anticipate the road won't reopen until later this evening, so please delay travel. Our next update is not due until 7pm. ^CR https://t.co/6EphNFXe35
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Central North Island (@WakaKotahiCNI) December 22, 2019
Meanwhile, travel for hundreds of holidaymakers will be made much slower today as passing lanes en route to the Coromandel are closed in a bid to prevent crashes.
Passing lanes on State Highway 2 at Maramarua are all currently shut down, with road cones blocking access to motorists.
As of today the road toll stands at 337 for the year. This month alone 23 people have been added to the fatality list. The figure surpasses the 2018 road toll of 259.
A 4km/h speed-limit tolerance is in place during this time.
Earlier this week police pleaded with drivers to take extra care on the roads.
"As people head away for the holidays we want them to remember that safety comes first at all times," said National road policing manager Acting Superintendent Amelia Steel.
"The people around you on the road are people's loved ones, possibly your own. It could be your brother, your mother, your best friend, or us - if that's not reason enough to drive safely, I don't know what is."
Steel said driving could be life-threatening if the person behind the wheel was not being responsible.
"So we want people to stay focused when they're behind the wheel or on their bike," she said.
"Everyone has a lot on their minds this time of year so it can be easy to be distracted. But if you're driving a vehicle you need to give that task your full attention.
"It's doing the basics that will keep you safe this summer; watch your speed and your following distances, stay focused – put your phone out of reach – wear your seatbelt, and always driver sober and alert."
Steel said police would have a "strong and visible presence" on the roads this summer.
