Two still critical after Manawatu fatal

Two people injured in a fatal road crash in Manawatu remain in a critical condition in hospital.

A 52-year-old woman died and four other people, including three children, were injured in the crash near Palmerston North.

A car heading into Bunnythorpe lost control on a bend, crashing through a fence and into a house around 2pm yesterday, police said.

The front seat passenger, a 28-year-old woman, was transferred from Palmerston North Hospital to Wellington where she remained in a critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU) today.

Three children were in the rear of the car. Two boys aged 9 and 6 were transferred to Starship Hospital in Auckland.

The 6-year-old was in a critical but stable condition while the 9-year-old was having surgery but was described as stable.

The 3-year-old girl remained in Palmerston North Hospital in a stable condition.

Police said all five involved in the crash are believed to be members of the same family and are from the Fielding area.

The woman who was killed in the crash was expected to be named tomorrow morning.

The cause of the crash was still being investigated.

- NZPA