Deadly weekend on the roads

This weekend's road toll has climbed to five, after a fatal crash on a Manawatu highway this afternoon.

A 59-year-old Palmerston North woman suffered serious injuries in the crash, which happened on State Highway 1, south of Foxton, about 2pm.

She died at the scene.

While the highway is now open, there remains a backlog of traffic and motorists in the area are being advised to drive carefully.

The police serious crash unit is investigating the crash, in which a motorcycle and car collided.

The woman's name will not be released until family members have been notified.

A car was heard speeding before it crashed into two parked cars on Farrelly Ave in Mt Roskill, killing one person, about 1.30am today.

Senior Sergeant Matthew Knowsley said indications were that speed was a factor in the crash and "alcohol was under consideration also".

There were four people in the car, and two others were seriously injured.

One Farrelly Ave resident said his wife had applied to the council for speed bumps to be put on the road, which is long and straight.

About 12.30am yesterday morning, Trent Michael O'Connell, 17, died when the car he was a passenger in crossed the centre line of Omoto Valley Rd, near Greymouth, and collided with a truck.

Two other occupants of the car were taken to hospital with minor injuries and a police spokesman said charges against the driver were "pending".

He said it appeared the car was on the wrong side of the road when the crash happened.

The truck driver was uninjured.

Two motorcyclists are also dead after separate crashes yesterday.

The first was killed in a smash in West Auckland about 1pm.

The motorbike was the only vehicle involved in the Candia Rd crash in Henderson.

And just after 3pm yesterday, the other motorcyclist died when they collided with another biker.

The pair were in a group of five riding together on Makomako Road, near Kawhia.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was called but the most seriously injured rider died at the scene.

The second biker suffered moderate injuries.

 

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