Two people dead after incident involving car and train in Bay of Plenty

Two people are dead after an incident involving a car and a train in Pongakawa in eastern Bay of Plenty.

Emergency services were called to the scene at 8.15am and three fire appliances were sent, Fire and Emergency New Zealand told 1 NEWS.

Two other people involved in the incident were taken to Tauranga Hospital in critical and serious conditions.

FENZ has confirmed the road is closed and diversions are in place.

Pongakawa School wrote on its Facebook page that no students or their immediate families were involved. 

Pongakawa is between Tauranga and Whakatāne.