Four dead in East Coast crash

Four people are dead after and two injured after car and a van towing a boat collided south of Wairoa tonight. Photo / SNPA / John Cowpland

Four people have died and at least one more is critically injured after a collision between two vehicles in Hawke's Bay tonight.

Police were called to State Highway 2 in the Raupunga area at about 7.15pm.

Four people were killed in the smash.

The Lowe Rescue Helicopter airlifted a 62-year-old man and 17-year-old male to Hawke's Bay Regional Hospital.

Both patients had multiple injuries.

Earlier, police said at least one other person was critically injured, and a further two had less serious injuries.

Diversions are in place at the scene, with traffic diverted through Mohaka township.

Police told Newstalk ZB it is understood some of the victims are locals.

"We don't know the identities or genders of the victims at this stage. We do know that some family members from some of the victims have shown up at the scene,'' said Inspector Paul Jermy.

The Police Serious Crash Team were on their way to the area, and the road was expected to be closed for several hours while the scene examination takes place.

Police say it is too early to speculate on the cause of the crash.

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