Three people have died in a crash near Waiuku this afternoon after a vehicle left the road and ended up in water.
Police confirmed this evening all three inside the vehicle died at the scene on Masters Rd.
“Emergency services were called at around 3.30pm after a vehicle left the road and ended up in a body of water nearby.
”Sadly, all three occupants of the vehicle have died at the scene.
“We acknowledge that this is tragic news for the tight-knit community in Waiuku,” said a police spokesperson.
Next of kin had been contacted and police would be ensuring support was put in place for them.
Locals on a community Facebook page described the stretch of road where the accident happened as “the rollercoaster”.
Franklin Local Board member Gary Holmes told the Herald “Waiuku is a very close-knit town”.
“Everyone knows everyone, and I’m sure when the details come out about which family has been affected, it will hit this community hard,” he said.
“Any sort of tragic incident like this, you know, the community will wrap around those that are impacted and affected by it and make sure that they get the care and concern and the comfort that they need.”
This evening police cordons either side of the crash scene diverted traffic along adjoining roads.
Conditions were bleak with strong wind and patchy rain.
The Serious Crash Unit is carrying out an investigation to determine how the crash occurred.
Masters Rd, between Waiuku and Kidd Rds, would remain closed for a significant period of time, a police spokesperson said.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand said three fire trucks and multiple support vehicles were at the single-vehicle crash.
A spokesperson confirmed the vehicle had gone off the road and people were trapped.
Earlier, residents said rescue helicopters, police, fire trucks and an ambulance had raced to the scene.
A worker whose business is on the road of the crash told the Herald there was a large presence of police and other emergency services on the scene.
He said he could see nine police vehicles, one helicopter, two fire trucks and an ambulance.
Another resident said he saw rescue helicopters in the air about 1km from where he was walking his dog. He also saw lots of emergency vehicles go past with sirens on.
A spokesperson for Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter said a crew was in attendance at Waiuku but no further details were available.
Hato Hone St John also confirmed crews responded to the incident on Masters Rd but referred further comment to police.
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