One person killed in a crash on Te Puke Highway

Emergency services are at the scene of a serious crash near Te Puke.

One person has died and another taken to hospital after a two-car crash on Te Puke Highway last night.

The road was re-opened at 9.20pm last night. Police were today continuing their investigations into the fatal crash, a police media spokeswoman said.

A police officer at the scene said a van and a car collided and the driver of the car died instantly.

A St John spokeswoman said one person had been taken to Tauranga Hospital with moderate injuries.

Police were alerted to the crash at 5.40pm on Te Puke Highway about 700m from the Affco Rangiuru entrance.

A reporter at the scene said traffic was backing up to the Paengaroa roundabout and motorists were being asked to turn around.

Fire, ambulance and police services are all at the scene.

One of the first on the scene said he saw a cloud of smoke and initially thought it was someone doing burnouts.

Police are responding to a crash on Te Puke highway. Photo / Leah Tebbutt

He said it was not until he came closer he realised it was a crash.

Two cars appeared to be involved in the crash crash, one was flipped on its side.

A kiwi fruit truck blocked the road until police arrived on the scene.

He said the sun-strike made it difficult to see what was happening at the time.

The road was closed while the Serious Crash Unit was investigating but had since re-opened.