One killed in Hawke's Bay accident

One person is dead and at least two others injured after a collision between a four-wheel-drive and a van at an accident blackspot.

One of the vehicles then collided with a stationary truck, waiting at the traffic-light-controlled intersection of the Napier-Hastings expressway and Meeanee Road at 11.15am.

Police said one driver died at the scene and at least two people were taken to hospital.

"It is causing mayhem. Traffic has backed up for 15km already," Sergeant Bruce Dean, from the Napier police traffic unit, said.

The busy road -- part of State Highway 50 -- would be closed for some time, he said.

The van rolled in the collision, and the driver had to be cut out of the vehicle by firefighters. The truck driver was unharmed.

"It's one of the worst blackspots in the eastern region. Transit are putting in an overbridge, but it's in its early days at the moment," Mr Dean said.

Police had not yet found out who or what caused the crash, and although they already had witnesses, they were appealing for more, and the serious crash unit were investigating.

- NZPA