A woman has died and four other people, including three young children, have been injured, at least two critically.
The crash happened around 2pm this afternoon (Saturday, 5 September) on Railway Road near the junction of Maple Street in Bunnythorpe. A car travelling towards Bunnythorpe from Palmerston North lost control on a bend and crashed through a fence hitting a house.
The driver of the car, believed to be a 52-year-old woman, died at the scene. The front seat passenger, a 28-year-old woman, was initially taken to Palmerston North Hospital but has been transferred to Wellington in a critical condition. There were three children in the rear of the car, two boys aged 9 and 6, and a girl aged 3. The 6-year-old boy is also in a critical condition and being transferred to Starship Hospital in Auckland. The status of the other two children is unclear at this stage.
All five are believed to be members of the same family and from the Feilding area.
No other vehicle was involved and although the outside of the house was damaged, no-one in the house was injured.
There is some suggestion that the vehicle that crashed, a Ford Mondeo, had just overtaken two other vehicles shortly before it crashed. Police are asking the drivers of those two vehicles to make contact as they may have information crucial to the crash investigation.
Those drivers or any other witnesses are asked to contact Palmerston North Police on 06 351 3600.
The dead woman is not expected to be named until Monday morning by which time police hope to have notified all next of kin.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 06 351 2546 or 027 234 8256.