Six people taken to Tauranga Hospital after another died in a crash north of Tauranga last night have been treated and discharged this morning.
Meanwhile the impact of a spillage of fuel and orange juice from the crash remains unknown unknown, for now.
The crash involved two trucks and a SUV towing a trailer just before 7:30pm on State Highway 2 between Pahoia Rd and Apata Station Rd.
Police confirmed the occupant of the smaller of the two trucks died at the scene.
A hospital spokesman said the six patients involved in the crash had all been treated and disharged this morning. They were a 42-year-old female; 7-year-old female; 41-year-old male; 49-year-old male; 16-year-old male; and 15-year-old female.
A Priority Logistics truck involved was carrying approximately 20,000 litres of orange juice.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council senior pollution prevention officer John Morris said the impact of the crash resulted in a spill of fuel and juice making its way along the roadside drain and down toward an unnamed tributary of the Tauranga Harbour.
''Some of the diesel and orange juice had made it down towards the stream before the Fire Service could contain it. Regional council staff attending the scene appreciated the efforts of the Fire Service in containing the liquid by blocking a culvert to prevent any further potential risk to the stream before our staff had arrived. While the Fire Service had a difficult job dealing with the incident itself they also focus on the potential risks to the environment as well,'' Mr Morris said.
''The remaining contents were sucked from within the drainage system, and about 10,000 litres was recovered and taken for disposal. Regional Council staff will be working with the trucking company to clean up the drain and check the surrounding area for contamination.''
The regional council was unable to determine the impact of the spill on the environment at this stage.