Police have closed Riverside Drive while emergency services respond. (file photo) Photo:
*Correction: This story has been updated to better reflect the circumstances of the crash.
One person has died at the scene where a car crashed into a New Plymouth home.
Police said they received a report of a vehicle crashing into a house on Riversdale Drive in Merrilands about 9.15am.
They said the person in the vehicle died at the scene.
A person inside the house was taken to Taranaki Base Hospital with moderate injuries.
Fire and Emergency said it took several hours to pull the car out with a fire truck due to the position of the car.
It confirmed power lines were knocked down during the crash and power was off in the area.
A spokesperson said the fallen lines also made it difficult for them to get to the driver.
St John said it sent three ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, and an operations manager to the scene.
A police spokesperson said the road has been closed while emergency services respond.
"Motorists are to avoid the area if possible and expect delays."
New Plymouth District councillor for the Kaitake-Ngāmotu ward, Bryan Vickery, said the crash was devastating.
"You couldn't think of anything more sad, and disconnected and surreal," he said.
"It's Christmas Eve ... it's all about whānau and family and preparing for the special day, and to have a tragedy in a suburban area like that, it's just very, very, very sad."
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