A police officer at the scene has confirmed one person has died in the one car crash on SH2 earlier this morning.
He said the rear passenger has died, while the driver is a status one, in critical condition and was being airlifted to hospital.
The front seat passenger was not seriously injured.
The Serious Crash Unit was investigating the crash.
Police confirmed last night that a second person involved in the crash on State Highway 2 in Western Bay of Plenty yesterday has died from their injuries in hospital.
It was earlier reported that a 16-year-old male was in a critical condition in Waikato Hospital after receiving multiple injuries in a crash on State Highway 2, Pikowai earlier this morning.
Police were not in a position to release the name of the two deceased at this stage.
The teen was the driver of the vehicle, which was travelling towards Whakatane when it left the road on a straight part of the road and collided with trees.
A car left the road and collided with trees on SH2 Pikowai at about 8am this morning. Photo/supplied
He was stabilised at the scene before being flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment by the Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter.
One other passenger died in the crash while another received injuries that were not serious.
The helicopter was called due to the seriousness of the injuries and the distance to the required hospital.
A police officer at the scene this morning said the rear passenger has died, while the driver is a status one, in critical condition and was being airlifted to hospital.
The front seat passenger was not seriously injured.
The Serious Crash Unit was investigating the crash.
The rescue helicopter airlifted a patient to hospital following a serious crash on SH2 near Pukehina. Photo/AndrewWarner
Earlier: Police are at the scene of a serious crash on State Highway 2, Te Puke East Rd near Pukehina.
Maketu fire brigade Chief Fire Officer Shane Beech said there was one vehicle involved in the crash, and it had rolled shortly before 8am.
A rescue helicopter was on scene, he said, and would most likely take patients to Tauranga Hospital.
He believed there were three occupants in the vehicle and they had to extricate one of them.
He said they were in a bad way.
That stretch of State Highway 2 was closed and a reporter at the scene said there were at least five police cars and three ambulance in addition to the rescue helicopter.
A police communications spokeswoman said diversions were in place and people should be prepared for delays.
New Zealand Transport Agency has released detour information, motorists were advised to use Ohinepanea Rd and Old Coach Rd in both directions.
