One killed and four injured in Kawakawa crash

One person is dead and four people are injured after two cars collided near Kawakawa this morning.

The crash happened at Three Bridges on State Highway One at 10.35am after one car appeared to have veered into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

Fire Service northern communications shift manager Tony McDonald said firefighters had to cut people from their cars. Five people were taken by ambulance to the Bay of Islands Hospital.

A traffic backlog has built up at the scene and motorists are being asked to avoid the area.