Police said today's fatal crash occurred on State Highway 1 at Tirau Rd near Karapiro this afternoon.
A man was found dead at the scene, while an 8-year-old boy from Tokoroa suffered critical head and abdominal injuries.
The boy was taken to Waikato Hospital by the Hamilton-based Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
At least three other people suffered moderate to serious injuries and were taken to hospital by ambulance.
Waikato Hospital said the injured boy was in a critical condition in its intensive care unit.
The boy's 45-year-old mother and 11-year-old brother were both being assessed in the emergency department. A 25-year-old Hamilton man and a 16-year-old girl from Te Awamutu were both stable.
It is understood the injured were travelling in two of the vehicles, which were badly damaged.
An 8-year-old boy remains in a critical condition in Waikato Hospital after a four-vehicle crash yesterday.
Waikato District Health Board said the Tokoroa boy was in the intensive care unit.
His 45-year-old mother and 11-year-old brother were both in stable condition in hospital.
The crash on State Highway 1 atTirau Road near Karapiro yesterday killed one man.
Two other people, a 25-year-old man from Hamilton and a 16-year-old girl from Te Awamutu, were treated at Waikato Hospital then discharged.
Three cars and a truck were involved in the crash that closed SH1 for some time.
It is understood those injured were travelling in two of the vehicles involved in the crash.
A woman and children were believed to have been travelling in one of the cars heading south. The man killed was thought be travelling alone and heading north.
