The people who tried to help the victims of a crash north of Taupō have described the horrific scene.
One person died in the collision between a car and a truck on State Highway I in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Neighbours went to help and arrived within two minutes, but could do nothing to help with both vehicles fully ablaze.
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Atiamuri resident Jillian Kerley woke up and discovered the carnage just outside her home at 2:30am.
"[I was] seeing the car and thinking 'I hope nobody's still alive in there because we can't do anything'."
She and her husband Ray were first on the scene, pulling over just as the fire began. They say they could hear a "fizzing sound" and saw the truck driver still inside.
"He literally threw himself out of the truck and ran down to us, and as he was running he said 'It's going to blow'."
When police arrived the scene was fully ablaze and the car was wedged under the truck, with the car's driver trapped inside.
Senior Sergeant Fane Troy says the man died at the scene and has not yet been identified.
The truck involved in the accident belonged to Hall's Refrigerated Transport. The company says its driver was not injured and is being supported at this difficult time.
The owner of a cafe just 250m down the road says there have been a few near misses in the area.
"You have the odd car slipping off the road, but other than that there was a fatal further along a few weeks ago," Bull Ring Café owner Lance Kennett told Newshub.
Snr Sgt Troy says the road was damp at the time of the accident, and has a message for drivers.
"Just be careful, and we reiterate: other people make mistakes, so prepare for those."
Mrs Kerley says it's a sight she won't soon forget.
"[You] shake your head. Why does it happen? Just sad."
Newshub.
