Another deadly crash in Hawke's Bay has claimed the life of a 27-year-old Hastings woman, bringing the region's road toll to 18 - three-times more than last year's road toll.
A witness who was first on the scene of a fatal accident at Tangoio yesterday said it was immediately clear someone had lost their life.
The woman, who did not want to be named, came across the crash on SH2 just after 12.30pm, pulling over at the same time as two truck drivers.
All three people jumped from their vehicles and walked over to find a "shaken woman" in a utility vehicle and a red BMW which reportedly spun onto the wrong side of the road. "There was some smoke coming out of the ute and there was obviously a lady inside we were just addressing her, she seemed alright so I made a call to move her because of the smoke.
"She was just in a state of shock but wasn't seriously hurt at all."
The witness said they could tell that the person in the BMW had died. The incident happened near Tangoio Settlement Rd which runs off the highway about 17km north of Napier where there is no cell phone reception.
One of the truck drivers went ahead to call emergency services while another diverted traffic away from the blocked lane. "I had the shaken woman in my car, we waited until police and ambulance arrived."
It's understood the utility vehicle driver had been heading to a farm in Putorino when she saw the BMW spinning toward her on a blind corner. The BMW had been travelling toward Napier at the time.
Eastern District road policing manager Inspector Matt Broderick said it appeared the BMW had crossed the centre line and collided with the oncoming utility vehicle.
The woman who had been driving the utility vehicle was "certainly very shaken".
The highway was closed about 2km north of the intersection for about two hours while emergency crews worked at the scene and serious crash officers carried out an examination. "Unfortunately the crash scene occupied both lanes."
At 3.30pm a single lane was opened to allow about 20 vehicles queued on either side of the crash scene to pass through.
It hadn't been feasible to set up a diversion route but the crash occurred during a time of relatively "light" traffic flow.
The Serious Crash Unit was investigating and it had yet to be determined whether speed, alcohol or wet weather conditions were factors in the crash.
The death had been referred to the coroner.
Hawke's Bay Road Policing Sergeant Kevin Stewart confirmed the crash victim was a 27-year-old Hastings woman.
Her name was likely to be released today after her family had been notified.
In another incident, two cars collided at the intersection of Stock Road and Maraekakaho Roads about 4.30pm yesterday.
A witness who wanted to remain anonymous said he was coming around a corner by the Hastings Golf Club when the crash unfolded in front of him. "There was a bang and stuff was flying ... it was quite a big mess," he said.
He stayed on scene to divert traffic in the 100km area until emergency services including police, fire and ambulance arrived.
Mr Adamson said no one was seriously injured.
Yesterday's road death was the second in four days, after a 78-year-old woman was killed in a crash on Pakowhai Rd, Hastings, on Friday. It brings the road toll for the region to 18, according to figures released by the Ministry of Transport. This is three-times last year's road toll of six deaths.