One person has died following a two-vehicle crash on Dansey Rd near Rotorua.

Police were called to the crash, believed to involve a rubbish truck, about 8am.

Two others were injured in the crash - one had serious injuries and one minor injuries, police said.

The Serious Crash Unit is at the scene and Dansey Rd remains closed with diversions in place on State Highway 5.

A man at the cordon, who didn’t want to be named, said he got word of the crash and went there immediately to support family members arriving at the cordon, including the mother of a little girl believed to be in a car involved in the crash.

He said they had been told the little girl was in a car that collided with the rear of a rubbish truck.

He said the crash happened on Dansey Rd, about 2km from the State Highway 5 turnoff.

He said there was frustration for the family as they were not able to go to the scene.

“I tried to ask the cop if we could go up because I was standing there on the side of the road with the mother of the kid.“

Motorists were asked to take alternative routes if possible.

Members of the public have been speaking to the police at the cordon, a reporter at the scene said.

Several cars are parked near the intersection.

Mamaku Volunteer Fire Brigade posted to its Facebook page Dansey Rd was closed and asked drivers to avoid it and “drive safe”.

Hato Hone St John was notified of the crash at 7.58am.

They responded with one ambulance and one rapid response vehicle and transported one patient in a serious condition to Rotorua Hospital.

One patient in a moderate condition was assessed and treated at the scene, a spokesperson said.

The reporter at the scene said several police cars and fire appliances had come from Dansey Rd and headed towards Rotorua. The cordon is still up, run by Traffic Management staff.