Several car crashes across the country

Several car crashes have caused road closures in parts of the country this afternoon.

In Northland, State Highway 1 south of Kawakawa was blocked at 12.56 after a crash.

In Manukau, a car collided with a power pole, bringing power lines down and closing Linwood Rd.

The road in Kingseat was closed after the crash at 1.40pm.

And at 2pm, police said a serious vehicle crash blocked State Highway 2 west of Opotiki in the Bay of Plenty.

Earlier, one person died and two were injured when a light van crashed near Nelson at 2am today.

Police said the crash happened on the Riwaka side of the Motueka River bridge.

Senior Sergeant Blair Hall said the investigation was in its early stages but it seemed the driver of the vehicle died at the scene. Police said the other two people were taken to hospital with what appeared to be moderate to serious injuries.

"The crash does not appear have involved any other vehicles, and evidence at the scene would indicate speed was an aggravating feature leading to this crash," Mr Hall said.

Police said a serious crash investigator would contact a full scene examination later today.