An elderly woman died yesterday when her car and a van crashed head-on.
The van driver was in a serious but stable condition in Wanganui Hospital following the smash on State Highway 3.
Three fire units, two ambulances and several police cars attended the crash, which happened close to Cameron Blockhouse, near Kaitoke, about 2.30pm.
The woman was taken to hospital by ambulance in a critical condition but died later.
The male driver of the van could be heard groaning as rescuers worked to free him from the wreckage. He was trapped for just under an hour and had to be taken out the back of the van, rather than through the driver's door.