Unsecured load leads to fatality: police

A stray piece of furniture is being blamed for a multi-vehicle smash in northern Tasmania that killed a woman and sent several other people to hospital.

The collision at mid-morning on Thursday involved four cars on the Bass Highway near Devonport.

"Cars involved had been undertaking swerving manoeuvres to avoid the road debris of the unsecured load that's actually come off another vehicle and then they've collided as a result," Detective Inspector Adrian Shadbolt told ABC Radio.

The dead woman was aged in her 60s.

Other people taken to hospital were treated for minor injuries.

Police are investigating the crash.