UPDATE 8.46pm: A second person has died following a serious crash on SH29A in Tauranga this evening.

One person died at the scene and a second person has died in hospital following the crash which appears to have involved five vehicles and occurred after a car broke down.

Traffic was brought to a standstill following a fatal vehicle crash on State Highway 29A between Baypark and Welcome Bay this afternoon. Supplied Photos.

Police confirm the crash happened at around 4pm on SH29A, Maungatapu, between Baypark and Welcome Bay.

The west bound lanes were closed and diversions in plae until around 9pm, when it was re-opened.

The serious crash unit investigates.

5.15PM: A police spokesperson confirms one person is dead following a reported five-vehicle crash on State Highway 29A near Maungatapu this afternoon.

Two people are also believed to have sustained critical injuries as a result of the crash which occurred at about 4.10pm.

Craig, who's asked for his surname not to be published, says he drove past the accident shortly after it occurred and saw three people lying in the westbound lane just past Baypark.

'I went past not long after it happened and could just see three people lying on the road with people tending to them when I went by,” he says.

'It looked like they were changing a tyre and was hit by a car.”

A Tauranga Police spokesperson is asking motorists to avoid the area. She understands the crash has occurred on SH29A between Maungatapu Bridge and Te Maunga and encourages motorists to use alternative routes via Papamoa Beach Road, Maunganui Road or Welcome Bay Road.

A reporter at the scene says traffic travelling towards Maungatapu is at a standstill.

Police at the scene of the accident are also asking motorists trapped in the traffic jam to turn around.

The SH29A crash is one of three incidents which occurred within the space of 30 minutes this afternoon, with a single vehicle crash reported on State Highway 2 near Wairoa Marae while and another reported on Pyes Pa Road near Keenan Road.

All three incidents occurred at about 4pm or after.

EARLIER 3.50PM:

Police are currently attending a serious motor vehicle crash on State Highway 29A between Baypark and Welcome Bay.

Traffic is at a standstill and the west bound lanes of SH29A are currently closed, with police saying they will remain closed for at least the next two hours. Diversions are currently in place.

A caller to the 0800 SUNLIVE news hotline has reported traffic is at a standstill on SH29A.

'Four police cars are on the scene and there were two ambulances but one has now left,” the caller says.

Earlier, another caller reported witnessing someone delivering CPR to a person on the roadside of SH29A.

Police and the New Zealand Transport Agency are urging motorists to avoid SH29A and have recommended SH2 and SH2A as alternative routes for travel.

The SH29A crash is one of three incidents which occurred within the space of 30 minutes this afternoon, with a single vehicle crash reported on State Highway 2 near Wairoa Marae while and another reported on Pyes Pa Road near Keenan Road.

All three incidents occurred at about 4pm or after.

SunLive will update this story once more information comes to hand.

Are you at the scene?

Call 0800 SUNLIVE or email photos to newsroom@thesun.co.nz

EARLIER:

Reports are coming in of three incidents, one to the east, one to the west and one to the south of Tauranga, this afternoon.

Two callers to the 0800 SUNLIVE news hotline have reported two separate crashes, one on State Highway 2 near Wairoa Marae and the other on Pyes Pa near Keenan Road, while a third caller reports a person was receiving CPR on the side of SH29A near the Maungatapu Causeway – all in the past 30 minutes.

A car has slammed into a pole and brought down power lines on Pyes Pa Road near Keenan Road this afternoon. Photo: Shelly Dudson

SunLive is still trying to confirm all three reports and will update this story once information comes to hand.

Are you at the scene?

Call 0800 SUNLIVE or email photos to newsroom@thesun.co.nz

Photo: Shelly Dudson