One dead and two injured in crash

File photo / NZ Herald

A 55-year-old man is dead and two girls injured after a two-car crash near Tauranga today.

Emergency services were called to the accident about 12.15pm on State Highway 2 near Te Mete Road, about 6 kilometres north-west of Tauranga.

A Tauranga St John Ambulance spokesperson said a 55-year-old man was killed in the accident. He was the sole occupant of one vehicle.

The other car was carrying four people. Two girls aged 15 and 7, from Whakatane, were taken to hospital with minor to moderate injuries.

They were travelling with family, but it is unclear if the car's other occupants were their parents.

A Bay of Plenty Times reporter at the scene said a red sedan had crashed.

The car had its hazard lights on and bits of the vehicle lay scattered across the road.

SH2 had been closed with diversions in place.

The dead man's name will not be released until next of kin have been advised.