Acting Whanganui Area Commander, Inspector Sue O’Neil
A formal identification process is ongoing but Police can confirm that the person who died following the bus crash was a young woman.
Once the formal identification process has been carried out and next of kin notified Police will be in a position to release more details.
31 people were believed to be on the bus at the time of the crash.
As this was a multiple casualty event it will take some time to establish exactly what has occurred, however we can confirm injured passengars were taken to Rotorua, Taupo, Waikato, Whanganui, Palmerston North and Wellington hospitals following the crash.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Team, CIB and Serious Crash Unit investigations into the incident continue.
The bus has been taken to Whanganui where it will be examined as part of the ongoing investigations.
Police will issue a further update as soon as additional information is confirmed.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre