In Friday night’s crash, one person died at the scene and two others were critically injured following a collision on Te Heuheu St near the Ruapehu St roundabout just before 6.30pm.
The area is part of the town’s busy shopping and restaurant district, and part of a low-speed zone.
Eyewitness Brad Boyce told Stuff he saw the tree on the roundabout shake when it was hit by one of the vehicles.
He said people were desperately trying to gain entry to the vehicle that lay on the roundabout.
Another witness told Stuff she was waiting in a line of cars to enter the roundabout when she heard a bang and saw a car collide with a small SUV.
Another vehicle was clipped by the impact, and the SUV was forced across the roundabout, she said.
Engine parts were flung about 15m across Te Heuheu St by the force of the crash, the witness said.
Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.