A 55-year-old man is dead following a two car crash on State Highway 2 north of Bethlehem.

The crash happened at about 12.15pm on SH2 near Te Mete Road about 6km north-west of Tauranga.

The two cars involved in the crash on SH2. One man is dead and four others are in hospital.

Two girls aged six and 15-years-old were also taken to Tauranga Hospital with moderate injuries and were discharged at about 5.45pm says a Tauranga Hospital spokesperson.

The two girls were in the car with two other adults travelling north in a red Holden when the car they were in and a red Mazda driven by the deceased collided.

Western Bay of Plenty Police area commander Inspector Clifford Paxton says the deceased man was the sole occupant of the vehicle travelling from Katikati to Tauranga when it crossed the centre line colliding with the other vehicle.

'Two adults and two children have been taken to Tauranga Hospital and we believe their injuries are not serious.”

Clifford says police received reports prior to the accident of the deceased's car crossing the centre line and had dispatched units to intercept the car when the crash occurred.

'We had one car coming from Katikati and two from Tauranga to try and intercept the car.”

He says no further information will be released about the deceased until next of kin have been notified.

Detours were put in place on SH2 down Te Puna Station Road.

The road is now open after being closed for most of the afternoon.

Traffic backed up along Clarke Road.