Three killed in logging truck accident near Tokoroa

File photo / NZ Herald

Three people have died and one is critically injured following a collision between a car and a logging truck in south Waikato this afternoon.

The crash happened on State Highway 1 at Lichfield, north of Tokoroa, between Tokoroa and Putaruru, around 3.50pm, Inspector Willie Taylor from the police northern communications centre said.

Three people died when the car and a logging truck had collided, he said.

"I can confirm at this stage it is a triple fatality," Mr Taylor said.

The three people who died were travelling in the car at the time of the crash, a police spokeswoman said.

A fourth person from the car was treated by paramedics at the scene before being flown to hospital by the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

It was too early to say what caused the crash, Mr Taylor said, but the serious crash unit and the commercial vehicle investigation unit would examine the scene to determine what happened.

Diversions are in place at Wiltsdown and Rollett roads. Motorists were advised to avoid the area if possible, and expect delays.