The investigation into a fatal crash on State Highway 2 near Apata is continuing this morning.

A 27-year-old Auckland man died and six were taken to Tauranga Hospital after two trucks and an SUV towing a trailer crashed on a bend between Apata Station Road and Pahoia Road at about 7.30pm last night.

Two trucks and a SUV towing a trailer crash on SH2, Apata, last night. Photo: Cameron Avery.

The crash closed the road for several hours. Police say it was eventually re-opened around 2am.

Six people, including one child and two teenagers, were treated and discharged for minor injuries sustained in the crash.

A Bay of Plenty District Health Board communications advisor says all of the people were from the Tauranga/Mount Maunganui area.

They were a 42-year-old female, a seven-year-old female, a 41-year-old male, a 49-year-old male, a 16-year-old male and a 15-year-old female.

The Priority Logistics truck involved was carrying approximately 20,000 litres of orange juice.

The impact of the accident caused the diesel tank and bladder inside the container containing orange juice to rupture, discharging the contents onto the ground, along the roadside drain and down towards an unnamed tributary of the Tauranga Harbour.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council senior pollution prevention officer John Morris says some of the diesel and orange juice had made it down towards the stream before the Fire Service could contain it.

'Regional Council staff attending the scene appreciated the efforts of the Fire Service in containing the liquid by blocking a culvert to prevent any further potential risk to the stream before our staff had arrived,” says John.

'While the Fire Service had a difficult job dealing with the incident itself, they also focused on the potential risks to the environment as well.”

The remaining contents were sucked from within the drainage system, and about 10,000 litres were recovered and taken for disposal.

John adds: 'Regional Council staff will be working with the trucking company to clean up the drain and check the surrounding area for contamination”.

Police are still continuing their investigation into the cause of the crash.

The name of the deceased will not be released until police have notified the man's next of kin.