Inspector Wayne Ewers speaks to the media at the scene of a triple fatal car accident south of Whangarei.
Two women and one man are dead after three cars and a light truck crashed south of Whangarei this morning.
Northland police road policing manager Inspector Wayne Ewers said the first of the three northbound vehicles is believed to have crossed the centre line and collided with a light truck travelling south.
The female driver was killed while the other person in the vehicle was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
As a result that collision a second vehicle was forced to take evasive action and drove off the road into the scrub.
The female driver, and only person in the car, was uninjured.
The driver truck lost control and crossed the centre line into the northbound lane and a third vehicle struck the truck head on, killing both occupants, a male and female.
The truck driver was taken to hospital in a serious condition with suspected spinal injuries.
"There are three deceased people from this accident and our thoughts go out to the families," Ewers said.
"We're still making inquiries to ascertain who they are and get to next of kin as soon as possible."
Road conditions at the time were fine with reasonable driving conditions when the vehicles collided on State Highway 1 at Oakleigh about 11.15am.
A man is also in a serious condition and a woman suffered moderate injuries. Both were taken to Whangarei Hospital.
One woman was uninjured in the crash.
Cordons were still in place and SH1 remains blocked, Ewers said, but were expected to be lifted later this afternoon.
"Police are working to clear the last of the debris from the road and anticipate the road will be reopened at approximately 4.20pm," he said.
"We would like to thank all motorists for their patience while they managed the scene of this tragic crash."
Police also sent their sincere sympathies to the families and friends of those involved in this tragic crash.
Emergency services are responding to reports of a crash. Photo / Google Maps
SH1 is blocked between Mangapai Rd and Maungakaramea Rd and will be for several hours. Diversions are in place via Tauraroa Rd and police advise motorists to avoid the area completely if possible.
An Oakleigh resident who lives near the crash told the Herald earlier that she was not able to see the crash but traffic had built up past Mangapai Rd to the petrol station, about 1km away.
