Emergency services at the scene of a fatal car crash at Paengaroa this morning. Photo/George Novak
Emergency services at the scene of a fatal car crash at Paengaroa this morning. Photo/George Novak
UPDATED 1.17pm: The section of State Highway 33 south of Te Puke has been re-opened after a fatal crash there this morning.
Traffic is now flowing in both directions at Partridge Lane, where a man died after a head on collision involving two cars just after 10am.
Western Bay of Plenty road policing Sergeant Wayne Hunter said police were still working to identify the man who died, who had been travelling south in a Honda.
The driver of a Volvo travelling north is a Hamilton man believed to be in his 30s. He was taken to Tauranga Hospital with moderate to serious injuries.
UPDATED: 1:04pm: The NZTA says State Highway 33 at Paengaroa between Rotorua and Te Puke could be closed till at least 4pm after a fatal crash.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible, with light traffic being diverted around the crash site via Old Coach Road, Roydon Downs Road and Allports Road.
NZTA says heavy vehicles are being stacked and then escorted through the site periodically under stop/go traffic management. Lengthy delays are expected.
UPDATED 12.11pm: A man has died in the sixth fatal crash on Western Bay of Plenty roads this year, Inspector Clifford Paxton says.
Mr Paxton said the man was travelling west on State Highway 33 and was the only occupant of the car.
Another man, travelling east in the other car, was cut from the wreckage after the two cars collided and taken to Tauranga Hospital with serious injuries.
He was also the sole occupant of his car.
Diversions remain in place and the road is expected to remain closed until at least 1pm, Mr Paxton said.
11.39am: Traffic has begun to flow again at the scene of a fatal crash on State Highway 33 this morning.
A reporter at the Paengaroa crash scene said logging trucks travelling north were intermittently being allowed through the cordoned off scene but traffic headed south was still being diverted along Sunset Drive and other roads in the area.
10.50pm: One person has died in a two car crash on State Highway 33 at Paengaroa this morning.
The drivers of both cars were trapped in their vehicles when emergency services arrived at the crash.
Police said one person died at the scene and the other had leg and chest injuries and was being cut from the wreck by the Fire Service.
Emergency services at the scene of a fatal car crash at Paengaroa this morning. Photo/George Novak
Traffic is being diverted around the crash site via Old Coach Rd, Roydon Downs Rd and Allports Rd.
The police serious crash unit will be investigating.
EARLIER: Emergency services are at the scene of a serious crash on State Highway 33 south of Te Puke.
At least two people are understood to have been seriously injured in the 10.12am crash near Partridge Lane at Paengaroa.
Fire Services shift manager Jarron Phillips said the collision occurred on the Paengaroa straights and were were at least two people seriously injured.
