Police are continuing to investigate a “serious incident” in the Bay of Plenty that left one person dead and another injured yesterday afternoon.
Emergency services were called to the intersection of Flax and Matatā Roads around 3.50pm after reports that two people had been injured by a third person while inside a vehicle. The vehicle then left the road and crashed into a ditch.
Despite CPR efforts at the scene, one of the victims died. The second was taken to Whakatāne Hospital in a moderate condition and was now in stable condition, while the alleged offender was arrested at the scene.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand said it responded with three trucks and that there was a car “in a ditch”.
Detective Inspector Lewis Warner described the incident as “shocking” and said inquiries into the circumstances were ongoing.
“Police are providing the injured victim wraparound support, and support has been offered to the members of the public who were first on the scene and did everything they could to help.”
Warner said the victims were known to the alleged offender.
“At this early stage we are limited in the detail that we can provide.”
The road was closed for a scene examination and reopened around 2am Sunday.
A 34-year-old woman was assisting police with their inquiries.
