A witness has described the scene of a crash in which a man died on a road known for its sharp bends just north of Hastings yesterday as "horrific".
Two cars collided at about 3.20pm at a bend on Ruahapia Rd, just west of the rail track and the Otene Road intersection.
The popular link between the State Highway 2 and Pakowhai motorways was closed off to all traffic.
The man, who had been driving one of the vehicles, died at the scene.
The other driver and her three young children were taken to Hawke's Bay Hospital.
One of the children, a seven-year-old boy, was in critical condition last night and was set to fly to Starship Hospital in Auckland. The mother of the children was discharged late last night, a Hawke's Bay District Health Board spokesman said.
The other two surviving victims - a five and a nine year old girl - were in a stable condition and spent the night in hospital.
One witness described hearing a loud bang and after initially thinking it was a duck hunter raced outside to investigate.
She saw two children lying prone on the ground as they were treated by ambulance staff.
A car seat had been thrown from the ute.
Another witness described the scene as "horrific".
"I could see from the condition of the vehicles that someone was seriously hurt or worse," she said.
"I have three kids myself, its just terrible, that poor woman."
The sedan with one occupant and the ute carrying the mother and her children collided when the sedan crossed the centre line, police said.
A police spokesman said it was not known yet whether speed, alcohol or a medical event were factors in the crash.
Roadsafe Hawke's Bay regional manager Linda Anderson said it was tragic to hear of the fatal crash.
"Our message is simply to urge caution for drivers on Hawke's Bay roads," she said.
She said Ruahapia Rd is a particularly dangerous one because of its sharp bends.
This is the first fatal car accident in Hawke's Bay since March 11 when a man's truck crashed about 400 metres south of the intersection of SH 2 and Ellison street, Napier.
The light truck was travelling toward Napier when it drifted off the road and crashed into a tree.
It is the fourth fatal accident on Hawke's Bay roads in 2015.
By Jonathan Dine of the Hawkes Bay Today
