Eight dead, boy fighting for life after 'devastating' head-on collision
Eight people are reportedly dead and a boy is fighting for his life after a head-on crash between a car and an SUV on a state highway near the New Zealand town of Taupo.
New Zealand Police said in a statement it would take some time for emergency services to establish exactly how many people have been involved in the crash.
Inspector Brent Crowe earlier told reporters at the scene he could not immediately confirm the death toll, but said there had been multiple deaths.
"To describe the scene behind us as a complete tragedy is an understatement," Insp Crowe said.
He said one person was in one vehicle, while "it looked like quite a number" in the other car.
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Insp Crowe said it appeared one of the cars had crossed the centre line on State Highway One between Taupo and Rotorua during wet conditions at 10.30am on Sunday.
A rescue helicopter pilot told local media eight people had died in the crash, which also left a young boy with critical injuries.
Greenlea Rescue Helicopter pilot Pete Masters told the New Zealand Herald he flew a nine-year-old boy from Tokoroa Hospital to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition.
Scene footage from Newshub.co.nz shows two vehicles crumpled together in the aftermath of the crash.
Taupo mayor David Trewavas described the crash as "devastating" and promised to offer support to all those impacted, including emergency responders, neighbours and local farmers.
"It just affects everyone and they never get over it," he told Newshub.
The Disaster Victim Identification team has been called in to assist with the investigation.
Earlier in April, five members of one family were killed in a crash 15km from Sunday's accident.
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