Person dead after serious crash near Te Puke

Crash. Two cars collided head on just north of Te Puke. One occupant has died and the other has been taken to Tauranga hospital. Te Puke and Tauranga services attended the scene. Traffi was divert

UPDATED 1.36pm: A woman has died after a head on crash near Te Puke.

Police at the scene have confirmed a woman has died in the crash, thought to be in her 20s.

The driver of the other car was reported to be a woman in her 60s and has been taken to hospital.

Traffic is flowing slowly on the grass verge around the crash.

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UPDATED 12.58pm: Two people in two cars are trapped after a serious crash north of Te Puke.

Tauranga senior sergeant Carl Purcell said the drivers of two cars that crashed head on were both trapped.

He said both drivers had suffered moderate to serious injuries and fire were in the process of freeing them from the wreckage.

"Early indications are that one of the vehicles crossed the centre line and collided head on with the other vehicle, although it is unknown at this stage which vehicle was at fault."

Traffic is moving slowly and is down to a single lane.

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12.14pm: Two people in two cars are trapped after a serious crash north of Te Puke.

Fire northern communications shift manager Scott Osborne said two cars crashed head on near Manoeka Rd on State Highway 2.

He said one person was trapped in each car.

The road is closed until further notice.

A St John northern communications spokesman said the two patients were still being assessed and could be anywhere from serious to critical.