State Highway 2 in the Bay of Plenty has reopened after a fatal road incident.

The New Zealand Transport Agency said the road reopened between Manawahe and Caverhill Rds at 6.40am today.

A person died and another was injured in the incident which happened around 3.50pm yesterday.

Emergency services were called to the intersection of Flax and Matatā Rds, near Matatā, after a report of two people having been “injured by a third person while in a vehicle”, a police spokesman said.

RNZ reported the two people had been stabbed.

The vehicle then left the road and crashed, police said.

Emergency services carried out CPR on one of the victims but they died at the scene.

The second victim was taken to hospital with moderate injuries.

Road closure near Matatā after a serious incident. Photo / Google Maps

The alleged offender was arrested at the scene.

“A scene examination is now under way and the road is expected to remain closed for some time,” police said last night.

“Diversions are in place, and motorists are asked to avoid the area.”

Hato Hone St John said they took one patient to Whakatāne Hospital in a moderate condition and referred further inquiries to police.

Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers business, breaking news and local stories from Tāmaki Makaurau. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.