Six people are dead following a two-car crash north of Waverley in south Taranaki, including a newborn baby.
Road Policing Manager Inspector David White says a baby is among the dead in the crash north of Waverley. (Source: Other)
Police say six people died at the scene on State Highway Three. Five of those people were adults and one was a new born baby.
A car heading north from Waverley contained four elderly people who all died at the scene, Road Policing Manager Inspector David White has told media.
Police say a number of people are critically injured, and some are trapped in their vehicles. (Source: Other)
A car heading south into Waverley contained a male driver and an infant in a car seat who both died at the scene, he said.
An eight-year-old girl has been transported to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition and a woman passenger has been taken to Wellington Hospital, also in a critical condition.
Emergency services were called to the scene at 11.11am.
The Serious Crash Unit is investigating and Mr White said while the investigation is in the early stages it is clear the vehicles have impacted head on".
"At the time of the crash the weather was clear and the road was dry, the crash occurred on a slight right hand bend of the road."
"What happened this morning at Waverley is an absolute tragedy on our roads. Six people have lost their lives and others are in hospital. That this happened on a day like today is just unbelievable and just devastating for those involved," he told media at the entrance to the Waverley Racecourse.
"For Central District, six people dying is just terrible, although for the family involved any crash, anybody dying in any crash, is just terrible. This just amplifies the impact across our community," he said.
Mr White could not say where the victims are from, saying, "our focus at the scene has been recovering the scene and getting hold with next of kin and dealing with that".
He thanked those who were first at the scene for their prompt action "coming across what must have been an absolute horrible scene to come across".
"I'd particularly like to thank the first responders form St John, the Fire Service and our own staff who've had to deal with this today.
"Dealing with a crash like this today with six people dead is just devastating. There's no other words for it really.
Asked about dealing with the death of the baby, Mr White said, "A lot of our staff have young families and having to deal with that is not pleasant. But our thoughts are with their family first, they are the ones who have actually lost the baby."
1 NEWS understands at least three rescue helicopters were at the scene.
State Highway 3 was closed between Ihupuku Road and Kohi Road following the crash, but has now reopened.
.
SHARE ME