Road closed after fatal truck crash in Waikato

The crash happened just before 4.30am on Tirau Rd, between Karapiro Rd and Gorton Rd. Photo / Google Maps

One person is dead after a truck and ute collided in Waikato this morning.

The truck and a ute crashed on Tirau Rd, Karapiro, just before 4.30am, between Karapiro and Gorton Rds. The ute driver died.

Waikato police Senior Sergeant Mike Henwood said the road would be closed and diversions in place for "some time".

Traffic headed north on SH1 was being diverted onto SH29 and southbound drivers were being diverted onto Victoria and Maungatautari Rds.

The detours are likely to add another 30 minutes to people's trips.

SH1 KARAPIRO, CRASH - ROAD CLOSED - 6:15AM
Due to a serious crash near the intersection of Karapiro Rd #SH1 is closed btwn Cambridge & Piarere, detour via Maungatautari. More: https://t.co/WZv9vAFfLE ^TP pic.twitter.com/VjGe9ouu1A

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) April 4, 2018

It's the second fatal in Waikato in just over 12 hours after a woman was killed in a crash on Tuhikaramea Rd, Temple View, yesterday.

She has been named as Lynette Keung, 72, of Temple View.

The car and light truck crashed near Cowley Rd about 2.30pm.

The deaths follow on the heels of a horrific Easter in which six people died - three times more compared to last year.

The road toll for April now stands at five, compared to three at same time last year.

In total, 109 people have died on the roads so far in 2018, compared to 95 last year.