Rotorua woman dies in crash

A 33-year-old Rotorua woman is dead and her 15-year-old son is fighting for his life after a two-car head-on crash in the Bay of Plenty yesterday.

Senior Sergeant Glenn Saunders said emergency services were called to the crash on State Highway 2 between Papamoa and Te Puke - a stretch of road known locally as "Long Swamp" - about 4.15pm yesterday.

Mr Saunders said the deceased Rotorua woman was driving towards Papamoa. As she negotiated a moderate left hand bend she crossed the centre line and collided with a van travelling in the opposite direction.

A 15-year-old boy in her car was first taken to Tauranga Hospital before being taken to Waikato Hospital by the Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance.

Waikato Hospital said the boy was in a critical condition in the hospital's intensive care unit.

A 14-year-old in the woman's car and four occupants of the van ranging in age from four to 44 years old were taken to Tauranga Hospital with minor injuries.

The woman's identity won't be released until next of kin were informed.