One person is dead after a serious crash involving a tour bus that has closed State Highway 1 near Tīrau.

Emergency services are responding to the crash near the intersection with Paparamu Rd, which happened just after 2pm.

Senior Sergeant Taupō Area road policing manager Fane Troy told a Herald reporter on the scene the crash “involved three vehicles, one of those being a tour bus”.

Troy said police believed the bus passengers were overseas tourists.

“It’s early on in the investigation so we cannot say what caused the crash,” he said.

Photos from the scene of the crash show a bus on the side of the road, along with a severely damaged car. Further along the road is an SUV with damage to its front.

St John said 13 patients have been transported for treatment, with two of them critical and four serious. Several rescue helicopters have been scrambled to the scene.

One person is dead after a serious two-vehicle crash that has closed State Highway 1 near Tīrau. Emergency services are responding to the crash, involving a bus and a car, that was reported just after 2pm today. Photo supplied

One person commented on Facebook, “Oh no! I heard all the sirens and thought it may have been an accident”.

Another said, “Bus versus car. It’s not good.”

Another local resident posted: “I just seen 3 appliances leave Putaruru and 3 cops and Ambo race through from Tokoroa ... It must be catastrophic.”

A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said seven ambulances, five helicopters and three rapid response units have been sent to the scene.

Patients were taken to Waikato, Rotorua, Tauranga and Auckland Hospitals by road and air.

Ambulances respond to a serious bus crash near Tirau which closed SH1, leaving on dead and 13 others injured. Photo / Supplied

The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter confirmed it had transported a patient in critical condition to Waikato Hospital.

“The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter is still on scene,” a spokesperson said.

The Herald understands the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter is also responding to the accident.

A detour is now in place after the serious crash closed a section of SH1 north-west of Tirau. Photo / Google

Waka Kotahi NZTA has also posted about the accident, warning motorists to expect delays.

“Due to a serious crash, State Highway 1 is closed between Tirau and Piarere Rbt due to a crash near Paparamu Rd.

“This section of SH1 is likely to remain closed for some time today as NZ Police undertake a serious crash investigation. Delay your journey or allow extra time for a detour via SH27 and SH29.”

Troy said any crash involving injury was serious.

“It has a big effect on emergency service staff as well as the communities and families.”

He also praised other emergency services for their work.

“Hato Hone St John did an amazing job triaging and dealing with all those people,” he said.

“Fire and Emergency NZ supported them and did a lot of work behind the scene.”

The Serious Crash Unit has been notified.