Person killed in crash on Tauranga Rotorua highway

The TECT Trustpower Rescue Helicopter at the scene of a serious crash on SH2 at Apata Station Road. Photo/George Novak

A person had died after a crash on State Highway 36 between Tauranga and Rotorua overnight.

The crash at Pyes Pa was one of three around New Zealand involving people who were killed and the second serious crash in the Bay of Plenty in less than 24 hours.

SH36 between Williams Rd and Taumata Rd was closed for several hours after last nigiht's crash.

Police said a car crashed into a tree about 10.15pm. Motorists were asked to avoid the area.

Fire and Emergency northern shift communications manager Colin Underdown said the person involved in the Pyes Pa crash had died.

Police were this morning unable to say whether the road had been reopened.

Another person died after a logging truck and car crashed in Waikato this morning.

Emergency services were still at State Highway 29 at Karapiro. The empty logging truck and a car collided about 4.50am, about 4km from the intersection with SH1.

A person had died after a crash on State Highway 36 between Tauranga and Rotorua overnight.

Another driver was dead after their car left the road and crashed into a paddock in the Clutha District, police said.

According to the Ministry of Transport the road toll stood at 363 at midnight last night.

Yesterday, SH2 at Apata Station Rd was closed after a serious crash near Katikati. Three people were taken to Tauranga Hospital serious in conditions.

The crash happened a day after a truck carrying LPG cylinders crashed into a ditch at the same spot.