One person has died after a car hit a tree and caught fire off State Highway 5 at Tapapa, near Tīrau, late this morning.
Police were notified of the crash at around 10.45am between Harwoods and Tapapa roads.
The vehicle caught fire after the impact, with the blaze spreading into nearby vegetation.
Hato Hone St John responded to the scene with one ambulance and one operations manager.
In an update just after 3pm, police confirmed a person had died.
SH5 between the intersection of SH28 and SH5 and the intersection of SH5 and Maraeroa Road was closed following the crash but was reopened just after 5pm. NZTA thanked motorists for their patience.
