Marlborough crash victims named

Police say two vehicles were trravelling at speed and passing each other before the crash. Photo / File

The two men killed in a high-speed crash near Blenheim this morning have been named.

They were 22-year-old Gary Alexander Benseman and 23-year-old Brian James Cooper. Both men were locals.

Mr Benseman was driving the vehicle which lost control on a straight section of Old Renwick Road and crossed the centre line and collided with a power pole shortly after midnight, Inspector Jenni Richardson said.

The vehicle was travelling behind another car at the time of the crash.

"We have spoken to the driver of the other vehicle and, while we can't confirm they were racing, we know they have been travelling at speed and passing each other," she said.

A full investigation would be completed before Police decided whether any charges would be laid.

"What we know is this was a senseless waste of two young lives and this accident was entirely avoidable. I can only hope that other young drivers will get the message that they are not invincible and cars are not toys," she said.

The car had burst into flames before the Fire Service was able to get there, Renwick chief fire officer Murray Neal, who attended the crash, told APNZ.

"It was obviously well against the pole and burning quite fiercely."

He said it was an absolutely unpleasant scene.

"Motor vehicle accidents are nasty in there own right, but when fire's involved it makes it even worst."

The Fire Service had been called to a number of motor vehicle accidents in the same area, he said.

It was a well-used arterial route and a reasonably good piece of road, he said.

St John Ambulance said it sent an ambulance to the crash, but did not take anyone from the incident to hospital.

This brings the holiday road toll to 15 - already three more than last year's total for the entire holiday period.

The official holiday period, which began at 4pm on December 23, does not end until 6am on January 4.