At about 5.10pm on Sunday 16, December 2012 a collision occurred on State Highway 57, Arapaepae Road, Levin.
A south-bound Mitsubishi motor vehicle collided head-on with a north-bound Nissan motor vehicle. A following north-bound Mazda motor vehicle swerved to try and avoid the initial collision however this vehicle also collided with the Nissan vehicle.
A 56 year-old female passenger in the Nissan vehicle died at the scene of the collision. The 77 year-old female driver of the Nissan vehicle was taken to Palmerston North Hospital and remains in a serious condition.
The three occupants of the Mitsubishi motor vehicle were taken to Palmerston North with moderate injuries.
The two occupants of the Mazda vehicle were also treated for minor injuries.
This section of the State Highway was closed for several hours to enable emergency services to investigate the collision and clear the scene.
The name of the deceased will not be released at this stage as next of kin is in the process of being informed.
Media enquiries should be referred to Detective Sergeant Peter Vine of the Levin Police on (06) 366 0509.