SH5 reopens after fatal crash

‘‘Three people were transported to hospital by ambulance and two people have been airlifted’’

One person is dead and five others are injured following an apparent head-on crash south of Rotorua.

State Highway 5 at Waimangu was blocked following the crash, which involved three vehicles, at around 4:45pm on Sunday afternoon.

Northern Fire Communications shift manager Megan Ruru said fire crews worked to free multiple trapped people.

Three people were transported to hospital by ambulance and two people were airlifted.

Both the Tauranga-based Trustpower TECT rescue helicopter and the Greenlea rescue helicopter were dispatched to the crash site - about 20 kilometres south of Rotorua - to assist.

One of the injured people, a 58-year-old Rotorua woman, suffered pelvic, chest and abdominal injuries.

She was flown to Waikato Hospital in a serious condition.

One other patient was also in a serious condition,two were in moderate condition and one in a critical condition.

All were transported to Rotorua and Waikato Hospitals.

The Police Serious Crash Unit was notified. State Highway 5 has since been reopened.