One person dead after serious crash north of New Plymouth closes SH3 near Awakino Tunnel

One person is dead following a serious crash on State Highway 3 north of the Awakino Tunnel, and north of New Plymouth.

State Highway 3 is closed 2km north of the tunnel.

Emergency services are on site, The New Zealand Transport Agency said.

SH3 AWAKINO TUNNEL - SERIOUS CRASH - 4.30PM

The road is now CLOSED 2km north of Awakino Tunnel due to a serious crash. Emergency services are on-site, please follow their directions. Road users are advised to consider using an alternative route or delay travel if possible. ^MF pic.twitter.com/uS4U6dWSGB

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Waikato/BoP (@WakaKotahiWaiBP) March 8, 2018

Road users were advised to consider using an alternative route or delay travel if possible.

Meanwhile, two people were critically injured in a crash south of Temuka.

Emergency services were called to the two car crash at 4.55pm.

Diversions are in place on the Timaru-Temuka Highway at State Highway 8 and Arowhenua Rd, via Levels Plain Rd.

More to come