Elderly woman dies in Surf Highway crash

An elderly woman is dead after the car she was driving collided with a bridge in south Taranaki this afternoon, police say.

The crash happened at Pihama, 10km southeast of Opunake, on State Highway 45, the Surf Highway, which runs around the coast from Hawera to New Plymouth.

The road was closed about 3pm, police said.

Delays were expected for motorists, but diversions were in place.

- NZPA