Shane Gourlay from the Maketū Fire Brigade said by the time his crew arrived around 9.30am a woman and two children were out of the car and were being taken to hospital.
"The car hit the front of the train and the left-hand corner of the car was pretty munched up.
"Apparently it flipped in the air when it hit the train."
A St John spokeswoman said one person with serious injuries and two with moderate injures were been transported to Tauranga Hospital by ambulance.
The scene on State Highway 2 near Pukehina. Photo / Andrew Warner
The train would remain in place for some time, police said.
