Mother, daughter killed in King Country crash

Monday, 9 October 2017

Police diverted traffic at the northern end of the crash site on Sunday.

The two people killed in a crash in the King Country on Sunday have been named as Gaylene Bell, 34, and her daughter Chanelle King, 17.

Around 1.30pm on Sunday, police were called to the two-car crash on State Highway 3 near Lees Block Road, north of the Te Kuiti aerodrome.

St John ambulance confirmed two people died at the scene.

Two others, an elderly couple, were flown to Waikato Hospital with moderate injuries.

**EAD MORE:

* Two separate crashes on Waikato roads claim three lives

* Double fatal crash closes highway north of Te Kuiti**

Bell and King were travelling in the same car when it crossed the centre line and collided with an oncoming car, Waikato road policing manager Inspector Marcus Lynam said. Both died at the scene.

Te Kuiti deputy fire chief Guy Whitaker said fire crews helped the two survivors in the other vehicle.

Waikato's Westpac Rescue helicopter airlifted the elderly couple to Waikato Hospital, where a spokeswoman said on Monday the pair were stable in a ward.

Lynam said it was too early to say what had caused the crash, but speed was suspected to have been a factor.

Police extend their deepest sympathies to Bell and King's family and friends.

The Serious Crash Unit investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.

Three people died in two crashes on the Waikato police district's highways over the weekend.

Their deaths have taken the number killed from road crashes in the Waikato police's district this year to 30.