“Two people in one of the cars died, while the driver of the second car had minor injuries. The driver of the truck was uninjured,” a police spokesman said.
“Cordons were in place for several hours, and the Serious Crash Unit attended the scene.”
Hato Hone St John said it took one person to Middlemore Hospital with critical injuries.
St John responded at 12.23am, sending one ambulance, three rapid response units and one manager to the incident, a spokeswoman said.
Meanwhile, in Waitoki, St John sent two ambulances, two rapid response units and an operations manager to Kahikatea Flat Rd about 10pm yesterday.
Two people were taken to Auckland City Hospital with critical injuries, St John said.
Police confirmed emergency services responded to the crash and said the Serious Crash Unit had attended the scene.
A police spokesman said the two people fighting for their lives were the drivers of the two cars which collided.
One person was taken to Tauranga Hospital with serious injuries, another person was transported to Waikato Hospital with serious injuries and two people were taken to Whakatāne Hospital with moderate injuries.
The Serious Crash Unit investigated both crash scenes and police inquiries continue.
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