Person hit by train in Mount Maunganui: Police confirm young person dead

Police at the scene of the railway incident in Mount Maunganui. Photo / Alex Cairns

A young person has died after being hit by a train in Mount Maunganui this afternoon, police say.

Emergency services responded to the incident on Hewletts Rd around 2.55pm.

Police confirmed tonight that a person had died after being struck.

The statement at about 6.30pm said most of the roads in the area closed after the incident had reopened.

A small section of Hewletts Rd, MacDonald St and Maunganui Rd remained closed.

Police said the death would be referred to the Coroner.

About 5.45pm, KiwiRail chief operations officer Siva Sivapakkiam said the incident had occurred at the Hewletts Rd level crossing.

“Police and emergency services are on site. The train will remain on site until we receive clearance to move it.”

Shortly after the incident a passer-by, who would not be named, told the Bay of Plenty Times traffic was backed up but the response from emergency services was swift and police and firefighters were at the scene.

She said she could see schoolchildren jumping over stationary carriages to get across the tracks near KFC.

Traffic management was being put in place and traffic was beginning to flow again, she said.

Police at the scene of an "incident at the railway" in Mount Maunganui. Photo / Alex Cairns