Police have named the woman who died in a crash yesterday 4km south of Tokoroa.
Janice Ethel Robinson, 59, of Tokoroa, died instantly and three others had to be cut from their vehicles after the crash, 4km south of Tokoroa at 2pm.
Fourteen people in five cars were involved.
A 2kmsection of the highway was shut down for nearly five hours and holidaymakers were diverted down a small side road, as emergency service workers cut people from the wrecks.
It took emergency services over an hour to free people trapped in their vehicles. Sergeant Jeff Gash, of Tokoroa, said it appeared a northbound car and a southbound vehicle collided.
Mrs Robinson was the sole occupant of the northbound car.
Another two cars, heading south, could not stop in time and also hit the northbound car.
One of the cars then spun across the highway and was hit by a second northbound car.
"The scene was chaotic to start with," said Sergeant Gash.
"A number of the vehicles were extensively damaged.
"The deceased's vehicle may well have been struck three times by three different vehicles."
The other cars, two carrying families, were scattered across the road, among shattered glass and torn metal after the crash.
Debris from the accident was spread over 120m.
Firefighters had to cut the dead woman and three others from their cars.
Two people, including a 5-year-old boy, were airlifted to Waikato Hospital with serious injuries.
A further seven people, including a 12-year-old, were taken to hospital by ambulance with injuries ranging from moderate to serious.
Sergeant Gash said the accident happened in fine, sunny conditions and all of the drivers were wearing seatbelts, which might have helped to save some of the lives.
