Police investigate fatal crash

The Police serious crash team is investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal vehicle crash on State Highway One in the early hours of this morning.

A van containing 10 people crashed down a bank just North of Rata (Hunterville area) shortly before 2am Monday morning.

The occupants of the van were a couple and their 8 children. A 35yr old woman who was the front seat passenger in the vehicle, was killed as a result of the crash. The woman's partner and children were uninjured.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash - the cause of which is not yet known.

The details of the woman will not be released until next of kin have been advised.