Woman killed in crash near Paeroa

The Easter holiday road toll has risen to three after a woman was killed in a two-car smash south of

The cars collided on State Highway 26 (Paeroa Kopu Road), about 15 kilometres southeast of Thames, shortly before 9.30pm on Saturday.

The road was closed with diversions in place at Hubbard Road, and at State Highway 25 and 25A.

Police were unable to give further details.

Earlier on Saturday, a passenger was killed in a two-car smash just north of Taupo shortly before 2am.

The man died at the scene of the crash on State Highway 5 at Wairakei shortly before 2am on Saturday.

The drivers of both vehicles were taken to Waikato Hospital, where one was in a serious condition, police said.

A 55-year-old Temuka male cyclist was also killed in a collision with a vehicle in Milford, near Temuka, about 6pm on Thursday.

The official holiday period began at 4pm on Thursday and runs until 6am on Tuesday.

There were no deaths on the roads over the Easter break last year.