Eight dead after 4 crashes in 24 hours
Wednesday, 3 August 2016
The past 24 hours are among the deadliest on New Zealand roads.
In that period there have been four fatal crashes, resulting in the deaths of eight people.
One horrific crash saw five people, travelling in one car, killed while leaving work near Tauranga on Tuesday night.
Tuesday, itself, saw six people die on the roads. Two more died on Wednesday.
**READ MORE:
* Five killed in Tauranga crash: 'I went over to the car but no-one was moving'
* One dead after crash near Eltham in Taranaki
* One dead after truck crash in Wairau Valley, Marlborough
* 70-year-old woman killed in early morning south Auckland crash
The worst day since 2000 was March 29, 2003, when 11 people died.
Since then there have been three days where nine people have died and six days that have claimed the lives of eight people, including the past 24 hours.
Since the start of August, nine people have died on New Zealand roads, bringing the road toll for the year so far to 170.
With still five months to go in 2016, total deaths on New Zealand roads are sitting above the total annual road tolls for 2012 (168), 2013 (149) and 2014 (167).
The tragic 24 hours started on Tuesday afternoon in Wairau Valley, in the Tasman region.
Marlborough man Trevor Roy Adams, 69, was killed on State Highway 63 after the freight truck he was driving crashed off a bank. Adams died at the scene.
On Tuesday night, five Tongan kiwifruit workers were killed after their car collided with a logging truck as they turned onto SH 2 near Tauranga after work.
The men, including a father and son, were seasonal workers who were leaving the Aongatete Kiwifruit Packhouse after the 8pm shift when the crash occurred.
The workers' boss, Allan Dawson, said he'd been concerned about the safety of the intersection for some time.
Witness Kevin Ward heard the band and called 111.
'I went over to the car but no-one was moving in the car. I could see three people in the car… It's a big tragedy'.
The victims have since been identified as Koli Vaipulu (son) and Sitiveni Vaipulu (father), Halani Fine, Koli Sione Teulaka, and Samuela Taukatelata.
The fatalities continued on Wednesday morning when a 70-year-old pedestrian was hit by a car in Otara, South Auckland.
The woman was killed by a ute backing out of a driveway on Rongomai Rd about 5am.
Less than two hours later a person was killed in a two-car collision near Eltham, South Taranaki.
Another person, who was initially trapped in the vehicle, was seriously injured in the crash on Mountain Rd about 6.55am on Wednesday.
And on Monday - the first day of August - a father of three was killed in Northland after the car he was in crashed near Rawene.
The passenger who died was a well-known local man in his 30s.
'STAY IN CONTROL ON WINTER ROADS'
Police are warning motorists to take care following the spate of road deaths.
'Tragically, multiple families are now grieving their loved ones following five separate fatal crashes on our roads since Monday night,' National road policing manager Superintendent Steve Greally said.
'While the causes of these crashes are still the subject of Police investigation, we know that from past experience crashes like this are usually preventable, and to see yet more families left devastated in this way is incredibly sad.
'As far as Police is concerned, any death or injury is one too many, and everyone needs to be doing their part to reduce deaths and injuries on our roads,' he said.
'And with winter weather well and truly upon us – with yet more bad weather forecast over the coming days – drivers need to be extremely careful and make allowances for the conditions.'
DEADLIEST DAYS ON NZ ROADS
Road crash fatalities by month since 2000
Jan 508
Feb 489
Mar 520
Apr 497
May 507
Jun 431
Jul 439
Aug 414
Sep 404
Oct 435
Nov 442
Dec 603
Road crash fatalities by weekday since 2000
Friday 931
Monday 597
Saturday 1056
Sunday 989
Thursday 766
Tuesday 648
Wednesday 702
Worst dates during the past five years
2015: Six people died on February 17
2014: Five people died on April, 17
2013: Five people died on May 11
2012: Seven people died on December 18
2011: Four people died on July 15, April 16, February 20, January 24, November 25 and October 30