A horrific weekend of crashes on Bay of Plenty roads is prompting police to encourage motorists to take care and be aware on the roads.

In Tauranga City alone there were seven car crashes – five non-injury, one minor and one serious – which is too high, says Acting Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager, Sergeant Mike Owen.

A 55-year-old woman died in a crash with a truck in Rotorua on Saturday.

'The serious incident involved an elderly female victim who got struck by a car coming out of the service lane between Mobil and Super Liquor on Otumoetai Road. She has extensively broken bones it appears at this stage. Broken right arm, hip and shoulder,” says Mike.

The 88-year-old was walking along Otumoetai Road at 11.50am on Saturday when she was struck by the vehicle.

Nationwide six people were killed on the roads with three people killed in Rotorua alone.

The crashes started on Friday night when a 54-year-old driver was killed when his car crashed into a pole and then a tree near Reporoa. He was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene.

On Saturday a 55-year-old woman died in a collision between her Honda SUV and a truck in Rotorua.

Police say a truck crossed the centreline after failing to take a corner, and crashed head-on into the car on State Highway 30 just west of the intersection with Lake Rotokawau in Tikitere.

That night a man in his early 20s died after allegedly being run over by a car on Te Ngae Road, south of Rotorua Airport.

Police say it appeared he had been lying on the road in the dark and was hit by an unsuspecting driver. Alcohol was believed to be a factor in this death.

A 21-year-old man and an 18-year old woman were killed in Waimate after their car crashed coming too fast around a bend. Police say neither were wearing seatbelts.

Mike says despite only having one serious crash in the Western Bay, it is never pleasing not have a crash free weekend.

'In general people seem to be taking a lot more care, but like I say it is seven crashes too many.

'People just need to be aware of the traffic around them and other road users.”