One dead after two separate crashes on State Highway 2 at Minden

Police are at a second crash today on State Highway 2 at Minden. Photo / File

Police have confirmed one person died after a serious crash on State Highway 2 at Minden, north of Tauranga.

A statement from police said the two-vehicle crash happened at 8.45pm yesterday.

A driver from one of the vehicles died at the scene, the statement said.

A person from the other vehicle sustained serious injuries.

The crash was the second on the same stretch of road yesterday.

Earlier,

two people were seriously injured

after their car crashed into a tree on the highway, near the intersection with Clarke Rd.

A St John spokesman said two people with serious injuries had been taken to Tauranga Hospital by ambulance.

The highway was closed to eastbound traffic for a period.

A witness said they heard a "big bang" before people went rushing to help.

Another witness who was driving a few minutes behind described it as a nasty crash.

She said it was a sad sight to see the two people involved, and debris "everywhere".