The King's Birthday road toll has climbed to the highest in a decade. (Source: 1News)
A man "initially believed" to have been in a vehicle involved in a triple-fatal crash this morning has been located, police say.
Three people died in the two-vehicle crash which had closed the Desert Road near Waiouru in the early hours of this morning, as the King's Birthday road toll climbed to seven — the highest in a decade.
Earlier today, police said three people had been found dead following the crash, and two further people were taken to hospital in a serious condition.
Police at the time added another person had not been accounted for.
In a update this afternoon, police said a person who was "initially believed to have been in the vehicle involved in the crash" had been located.
"There are no further concerns for his welfare and police are speaking with him," a police spokesperson said.
Inquiries into the circumstances of the crash were ongoing.
Emergency services were called to the crash on State Highway 1 at Waiouru between Shawcroft Rd and Access Rd No 17 at around 2.55am.
Hato Hone St John said earlier today it had responded with two ambulances, a rapid response unit, a manager, and one helicopter.
"Our crews accessed and treated two patients, one in a serious condition who was airlifted to Palmerston North Hospital, and one in a serious condition who was transported to Whanganui Base Hospital," a St John spokesperson said.
The New Zealand Defence Force, who operate the nearby Waiouru Military Camp, were first on scene with two domestic appliances.
Fire and Emergency NZ responded to the crash with one crew from Waiouru, with the trapped occupants now freed from the vehicles.
NZTA said the Desert Road closed at 3.30am between the intersections of State Highway 49 and State Highway 46. It reopened at around 9.25am, though police staff continued to work in the area.
"Please take additional care and follow any directions from emergency services staff."
The triple-fatal crash today brought the preliminary King's Birthday road toll, which runs from 4pm on Friday to 6am on Tuesday, to seven. It's the highest level since 2016 when 11 died.
Last year, there were five deaths recorded on the roads over King's Birthday weekend — the highest since 2019.
'Horror night' on roads - police
The triple-fatal crash comes after two people were killed in separate single-vehicle crashes in Auckland and Taupō overnight.
Superintendent Steve Greally, Director of Road Policing, said the three fatal crashes which killed five people marked a "horror night" on New Zealand's roads.
“One person died in a crash in Wairakei, one on Waiheke, and tragically, three people were killed in a crash in Waiouru. That is absolutely gutting," he said.
“We are thinking of their families today, while they deal with the awful reality that their lives will never be the same.”
Police, Fire and Emergency NZ and Hato Hone St John had all urged road users to take care over the long weekend.
"We've seen too many lives lost so far this year," Greally said.
He said officers would be focused on the four main causes of death and serious injury on roads — speed, impairment, distractions, and restraints.
"If you’re getting on the road today, please – buckle up, put your phone away, watch your speed, and if you are at all impaired by alcohol, drugs or tiredness, stop – don’t get behind the wheel," he said.
“These things might be the difference between you getting home safely or not.”
Monday's crash was the second fatal incident on the same stretch of highway in just over a month.
Three people were killed in a crash between a car and a tanker truck on the same stretch between Shawcroft Rd and Access Rd No17 just over month ago on April 27.
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