One person was "heavily trapped" in the car, firefighters say. Photo / Supplied
Three people are in a serious condition after a car crashed into a shop in Hastings in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Emergency services were called to the crash at the intersection of Duchess Cres and Karamu Rd North, in the Hastings suburb of Mayfair, about 12.44am.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokeswoman said one person was "heavily trapped" after the crash.
"They were successfully extricated by firefighters by 1.30am," she said.
A Hawke's Bay District Health Board spokeswoman said a woman in her 20s, a man in his 30s and a woman in her 40s were all in a serious condition at Hawke's Bay Hospital.
The car, which crashed into Panache Soft Furnishings, narrowly avoided hitting Advanced Cleaning Supplies Hastings next door.
A store spokeswoman said staff arrived at work to a "close call".
"The tree outside the shop is demolished and the windows next door as all boarded up," she said.
A St John Ambulance spokeswoman said two patients were originally transported to Hawke's Bay Hospital – one in a critical condition and one in a serious condition.
Police said two passengers in the car were also treated for injuries at hospital.
Two fire trucks from Hastings, one support crew and two ambulances attended the scene.
Police enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
MORE TO COME
Javon Aranui was rushed to hospital in an ambulance but died the next day.