12 Oct 2018

Three dead after crashes on North Island roads

4:31 pm on 12 October 2018

Three people have died on roads in seperate crashes on the North Island this morning.

Police generic

Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller

A crash has closed State Highway 2 south of Waihi, and diversions are in place.

State Highway One north of Auckland has reopened after a fatal crash involving a truck and and two other vehicles.

Police said the crash happened near Mahurangi West Road, north of Puhoi.

One person died at the scene and three others have been injured - two of them seriously.

Diversions are being put in place at Warkworth and Silverdale.

Drivers are being told to avoid the area if possible, or use State Highway 16.

In another incident, police were called to Albany Expressway at 6.07am where one person died in a crash.

The expressway is closed in both directions between the Tawa Drive-Greville Rd interchange and Mercari Way-Bush Rd.

Diversions are in place on Tawa Drive and Bush Road.

Delays are likely and police and NZTA are appealing to motorists to avoid the area.

The road is expected to be closed for some time and the Serious Crash Unit is investigating.

Meanwhile, a person has died after being hit by a car on State Highway One on the Kapiti Coast this morning.

Emergency services were called to the incident south of Otaki at about 5am.

The road is closed and diversions are in place on Addington Road for southbound traffic and Te Waka Road for northbound traffic.

Earlier this morning, State Highway 5 at Te Pohue between Taupō and Napier was closed after a truck and trailer caught fire.

Fire and Emergency said firefighters were called out after 2.30am and remain at the scene.

The driver has been taken to hospital.

It's not clear what caused the blaze.