An adult and a child have been confirmed dead by police, and two adults and a child injured following a serious two-vehicle crash near Taihape this afternoon.
Police were alerted to the crash on State Highway 1 north of Mangaweka at around 12.42pm.
“Sadly, one adult and one child died today in the crash,” a police spokesperson said.
“Our thoughts are with their family and friends at this sad time.”
Police said two adults and one child who were injured remain in hospital.
“Police would like to thank the members of the public who responded and assisted with this tragic incident, taking control of the scene until emergency services arrived.”
The full circumstances of the crash were now under investigation, police said.
The road has since reopened, but New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said delays were expected.
Earlier, St John said two ambulances, a first response unit, two helicopters and an operations manager responded to the scene.
“Two patients, one in a critical condition, and another in a serious condition were airlifted to Wellington Regional Hospital, and a third patient in a moderate condition was taken by road to Palmerston North Hospital,” a St John spokesperson said.
The crash brings the preliminary Christmas-New Year holiday road toll, which runs between December 24 at 4pm and January 3 at 6am, to 9.
