Police confirmed the deaths this evening.
“Unfortunately, five people lost their lives in this accident. The emergency services are working with us, making sure we collect all the evidence, … and trying to determine what happened in this terrible accident,” Inspector Jeff van Waikato Road Police. Penno said in a video interview with Stuff.
He said evidence would be collected while maintaining respect for those who had died.
Penno confirmed it was a head-on collision and told Stuff it appeared one of the vehicles had crossed the center line.
“This is a busy road and at that time of day it is quite busy, but we understand that conditions are dry and the weather is good even if it has become dark,” he said. The New Zealand Herald.
Once the serious accident unit had completed evidence collection, the bodies and vehicles would be removed from the scene and treated “with the respect they deserve”.
The accident happened just before 4.45pm on State Highway 3 / Ōhaupō Rd.
The police previously said in a statement that several people were injured.
St. John said three ambulances, two rapid response vehicles and two operations managers were on site, but did not say how many patients were being treated.
Fire and Emergency said three trucks from Te Awamutu and Chartwell also responded, and one remains on scene.
Ohaupo Rd is closed between Jary Rd and Ngaroto Rd and motorists are asked to avoid the area.
Diversions have been put in place and Waipā District Council said the road is likely to be closed for several hours.