Huge crash pile up kills 'its a bloody mess'

CRASH KILLS MANY IN TARANAKI  |UPDATED 3.17PM|

In the matter of hours there has been a flurry of crashes in Taranaki, this follows a graphic image which is shown above being shown on the Taranaki Daily News this morning.

MASSIVE PILE UP KILLS TWO SO FAR   |UPDATED 3.17PM|

Police are at the scene of a serious crash on State Highway 3 just outside Normanby in Taranaki.

Two people are confirmed dead and another seriously injured in the crash between a van and four motorbikes on Ketemarae Road at around midday.

Police were alerted at 12.04pm.

The seriously injured victim has been airlifted by helicopter to the Taranaki Base Hospital.

Four others have been taken by ambulance to the same hospital with injuries ranging from serious to minor.

At this stage it is not known what caused the crash and the Police Serious Crash Unit is investigating.

The road remains closed and detours are in place.

No information is available at this time about the occupants of the van or the motorbike riders, however no children were involved.

Police are working to inform relatives of the victims and their identities will not be released until this process is completed.

SECOND CRASH, DETAILS STILL UNKNOWN: LATEST

Emergency services are attending a two-car crash on State Highway 3 just North of New Plymouth.

The accident happened near Big Jim's Hill.

A car and a ute collided in the crash and witness's said it was a bad crash.

A police central communications spokesman said no one was trapped but the crash had blocked one lane. No more information was immediately available.

Ambulance, Fire and Police personal remain at the scene.

The crashes follow a warning and a graphic image of the deaths in Taranaki regarding crashes.

The image is veiwable above...

This story will be updated as infomation on the crashes are released.