Two dead after car smashed into tree

Two people were killed when a car left the road and smashed into a pine tree near Makarora late on Thursday night.
Police were alerted to the single-vehicle crash on Makarora-Lake Hawea Road (SH6) about 10.20pm yesterday.

Two people died at the scene and two others were transported to Dunstan Hospital with minor and moderate injuries.

A reporter at the scene this morning said a small blue car had left the road gone between two pine trees and crashed in another.

The impact of the car hitting the tree sent wooden debris across the crash scene.

The crash happened on a straight section of road near a group of houses on Weka St, which is close to where Makarora River reaches Lake Wanaka.

The road was down to one lane this morning and motorists should avoid the area if possible.

The Serious Crash Unit was on the scene this morning mapping out the scene with cones and police were working to understand the circumstances of the crash.

NZTA said delays were possible.