Four people have died following a crash on State Highway 5 south of Rotorua. 

The district’s mayor says the community is “devastated” for the victims’ families. 

The crash, involving two cars and seven people, was reported about 7.50pm on Monday, police said. 

Three people died at the scene of the crash and one died in hospital after having been transported in a critical condition. 

Two people remain in hospital, one in a critical condition and one in a serious condition. 

State Highway 5 intersection with Tumunui Rd. Photo / Ben Fraser 

One person was uninjured. 

Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell said the community was “devastated for the families of the crash victims”. 

“It’s a tragedy to have lost four people so suddenly and our community is shocked and saddened for their loss. 

“This is a well-used state highway that many people drive as a daily commute for work and also as visitors to our region.” 

She expressed gratitude for the first responders and ambulance staff who attended the crash, and encouraged all drivers to look after themselves and take care on the roads heading into the busier summer season. 

NZ Transport Agency said SH5 will close today between SH30 and SH38 from 1.30pm to 3pm to enable a serious crash investigation. Detours will be in place. 

SH5 closed on Monday night and reopened as of Tuesday morning. 

A car of people visibly upset had parked at the cordon shortly after the crash was reported and began walking down the highway toward the crash scene. 

A St John spokesperson said they sent two ambulances, an operations manager and a rapid response vehicle. 

On Monday night, NZTA said the crash between Tumunui Rd and Waipa State Mill Rd had closed the SH5. 

Residents posted about the crash on a local Facebook page. 

“Looks serious, roads closed.” 

“Lots of ambulances,” another person wrote. 

One woman commented that her daughter was turned around and she could hear people screaming from their cars. 

A police spokesperson said the crash on State Highway 5 was reported to police at 7.50pm. Photo / Ben Fraser 

It comes after five people died in three separate crashes over the weekend. 

Three motorcyclists were killed in a crash on State Highway 1 in Utiku, near Taihape, on Saturday. 

Two of the riders have been publicly identified, with tributes left for Lesley Brooks and Jacob Coady. 

Another motorcyclist was killed on the same day on SH32 near Taupō. 

A motorist died in a single-vehicle crash near Little River in Canterbury on Sunday. 

According to online Ministry of Transport statistics, the road toll for 2024 stood provisionally at 263 at 7am today, including 12 this month, but the prospects were for the lowest annual toll in more than a decade. 

The toll of 253 in 2013 was the lowest since 1952, and it has been below 300 just twice since, the 293 in 2014 and 299 in 2021, impacted by less traffic on the roads in the Covid era. 

The highest on record was 843 in 1973.