Four people have died following a crash on State Highway 5 south of Rotorua.

The crash, involving two cars and seven people, was reported about 7.50pm on Monday, police said.

Three people died at the scene of the crash and one died in hospital after having been transported in a critical condition.

Two people remain in hospital, one in a critical condition and one in a serious condition.

One person was uninjured.

Investigations into the circumstances that led to the crash are ongoing, police said.

SH5 was closed with diversions in place at the intersection with SH30.

The highway had reopened as of Tuesday morning.

A car of people visibly upset had parked at the cordon shortly after the crash was reported and began walking down the highway toward the crash scene.

A St John spokesperson said they sent two ambulances, an operations manager and a rapid response vehicle.

On Monday night NZTA said the crash between Tumunui Rd and Waipa State Mill Rd had closed the SH5.

State Highway 5 intersection with Tumunui Rd. Photo / Ben Fraser

Residents posted about the crash on a local Facebook page.

“Looks serious, roads closed.”

“Lots of ambulances,” another person wrote.

One woman commented that her daughter was turned around and she could hear people screaming from their cars.

-Rotorua Daily Post.