UPDATED 3.30pm: Christmas road safety reminders are coming early this year, as two people have died on Taranaki roads in two days.

A woman was killed in a four-car crash at the intersection of State Highway 3 and Scott Road at 10.30am today.

Despite great efforts, paramedics weren’t able to resuscitate her after extracting her from her car. 

The other five people involved in the crash are being treated in hospital. 

Two have serious injuries. 

The part of the Surf Highway between Hawera and Manaia is closed.

Sixty-year-old George Crombie of Te Kuiti died when his car collided with a bus in the Awakino Gorge yesterday.

His death has been referred to the Coroner and the crash is continuing to be investigated.

St John district operations manager, Ian May, is warning motorists to take care. 

He says the lead-up to Christmas is a particularly horrific time for people to be dealing with fatalities.