Two individuals have lost their lives in a collision involving two vehicles north of Mangaweka. The incident occurred on State Highway 1, near Ruahine Road, around 12:42 p.m., prompting immediate police response. Alongside the two fatalities, three people were transported to the hospital.
This tragic accident potentially raises the holiday road toll to nine, as reported but not yet confirmed. As a result, State Highway 1 is currently closed to both southbound and northbound traffic between Waiouru and Bulls. Motorists are being redirected via State Highways 4 and 49, a detour expected to extend travel time by approximately two and a half hours.
The Serious Crash Unit is on the scene conducting investigations, which may take several hours. Emergency services, including two ambulances, a first response unit, two helicopters, and an operations manager, were swiftly dispatched following the incident. This latest accident adds to a series of road fatalities, with at least seven deaths reported since Christmas Eve. Further updates are anticipated.
