A 14-year-old boy has died after a 4 wheel drive vehicle rolled on a gravel forestry road.
The crash happened about 12.25pm on Kepa Rd, near Turangi, on the edge of the Kaimanawa Forest Park.
Police said the vehicle contained three 14-year-olds - two boys and a girl. One of the boys died at the scene, while the two other teenagers suffered minor injuries. Police are still investigating who was driving.
Rotorua's BayTrust Rescue Helicopter attended the scene, but pilot Todd Dunham said the boy was dead by the time they arrived. He said there was difficulty with communications as emergency services lost cell-phone contact, as well as access difficulties.
The crash came just an hour after a man was seriously injured in another crash, on State Highway 1 near Rangipo.