By ROSALEEN MACBRAYNE
A 10-year-old girl died after a station wagon carrying a Te Puke family of nine went off State Highway 2 between Tauranga and Te Puke yesterday afternoon.
Four girls unsecured in the back were flung from the vehicle when it crossed the road, plunged about 6m into a paddock, rolled and ended up back on its wheels.
The 10-year-old was resuscitated on the way to Tauranga Hospital but died soon after arrival.
An 11-year-old and a 6-year-old, both girls, were seriously hurt.
Two adults, a boy and two small children wearing seatbelts remained in the car. Their injuries and those of the fourth girl were moderate to minor.
No names had been released last night.
The accident happened just south of the Papamoa turnoff at 1.45 pm and the victims were travelling towards Mt Maunganui.
Police have appealed for witnesses and are keen to speak to the occupants of a white late-model Japanese saloon also heading towards the Mount, which overtook a truck on the passing lane near the Welcome Bay turnoff.
A section of the highway was closed for nearly two hours.
Girl dies after station wagon goes off road
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