Baby flung from car named

The wreckage of the car the baby girl was in. Photo / Christine Cornege

A woman has been spotted breastfeeding an unrestrained baby in a moving car a day after another unrestrained infant died from injuries suffered in a crash.

The 12-week-old baby who died yesterday after being thrown from her mother's lap earlier this week was identified today as Alexandria Navacilla of Taumaranui.

Alexandria was in the back seat of a Honda hatchback when the car slid across State Highway 4 and hit a bank, south of Te Kuiti on Monday about 8.30am.

She was the only passenger in the overloaded five-seater car who was not properly restrained, and died from her injuries at Starship children's hospital early yesterday.The car seat was found by police in the boot.

Police also identified the woman killed in another fatal crash on SH3, south of Ohaupo, on Monday evening.

Hamilton resident Beant Kaur, 22, was behind the wheel of a yellow Mazda car when it crossed the centreline, collided with a southbound car, then three other vehicles - including a truck.

Waikato district road policing manager Inspector Freda Grace said the crash occurred near the highway's intersection with McFall Rd.

"In expressing our sympathies to both families for their loss police are urging other motorists to make every day a road safety day and ensure they are doing all they can to make Waikato roads a safe place to travel.''

Reports to police of other dangerous driving behaviour since the fatal crashes have also been disappointing, Ms Grace said.

"Today's call came in at 11.43am relating to a Mazda Familia being driven by one woman who had another in the front passenger seat breast feeding an unrestrained baby in her lap at the Base in Te Rapa. A police foot patrol tried to get to the vehicle before it left but the driver had gone and units are currently working to locate and stop the car.

"To now hear yesterday's loss hasn't deterred other parents or motorists travelling around with unsecured children in their cars reinforces why police will be running checkpoints throughout the week checking car restraints as just one part of the Road Safety Week campaign,'' she said.