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 have released the names of the two young men who died in a crash in the Bay of Plenty yesterday.
They were Chance Whittaker-Ngaropo, 16, of Auckland and Te Hira Whittaker-Ngaropo, 12 of Auckland.
The pair died after a crash on State Highway 2 in Pikowai yesterday morning.
Itis understood that 16-year-old Chance was driving the vehicle which was travelling towards Whakatane when it left the road on a straight, and hit trees.
He was stabilised at the scene before being flown to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition for further treatment by the Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter.
It is understood Te Hira was sitting in the back of the car and died at the scene.
A third passenger received injuries that were not serious.