Three people have died in a central North Island crash involving four motorcycles and another vehicle earlier this morning.
A police spokesperson said emergency services were called to the scene on SH1 between Mangaweka and Taihape just after 8.10am.
“Police can advise three people have died,” a spokesperson said.
Two others have been transported to Wellington Hospital with critical injuries.
Part of SH1 was closed for several hours but reopened at around 2.30pm.
St John told 1News it sent three helicopters, two ambulances, three rapid response units, and one manager to the scene.
“Our crews assessed and treated two patients who were airlifted to Wellington hospital in a critical condition,” a St John spokesperson said.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesperson told 1News three fire trucks responded to the scene, including an additional rescue crew, shortly after 8.10am.
The spokesperson said one person trapped in the vehicle was extracted and was now in the care of ambulance.
