The mayor of the small Hawke’s Bay town of Wairoa says a fatal school bus crash has devastated the community.

Police were called to a two-vehicle crash between a car and the bus at the intersection of Black St and Achilles St/State Highway 2 in Wairoa about 3pm on Tuesday.

One person died and two others were injured and in a critical condition yesterday evening.

The Serious Crash Unit closed the roads while it investigated the crash. Police said the death would be referred to the coroner.

A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesperson confirmed a school bus was involved in the crash, which occurred at an intersection within metres of Wairoa College.

The school has been contacted for comment.

Deputy secretary at the Ministry of Education Jocelyn Mikaere said the bus involved was funded by the ministry.

“We have a Traumatic Incident team working with the kura whose students were on the bus. This support will be available for as long as it’s needed.”

Wairoa Mayor Craig Little said the crash had caused “absolute devastation” in the community.

“Wairoa is a small place, everyone knows each other.”

He said his heart went out to the families involved.

“It’s just one of those things that you just couldn’t even imagine would happen and it’s pretty devastating for us all.

“It’s just absolutely horrible. It’s going to rock the town.”

Little said the crash happened in a 50km/h zone and it was unusual for a fatality to occur there, but added police were working to find out the cause.

Emergency services were called to two other incidents in Wairoa within an hour of the fatal crash.

A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said around 2.15pm yesterday a truck and trailer rolled, partially blocking one lane in the town, and just before 3pm there was a minor incident with a vehicle close to the fatal crash.

Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and has worked in radio and media in the UK, Germany, and New Zealand.