The deaths of three Dannevirke people, including a 2-year-old girl and her father, in a car crash last night has left the small town reeling. The triple fatal, at 10pm, included the death of a 73-year-old local woman. Their deaths, plus those of a 17-year-old Hawke's Bay girl in Wellington Hospitaland 17-year-old Blair Sainsbury near Gisborne, mean five people lost their lives in five days on the region's roads. Blair Sainsbury was the cousin of television presenter Mark Sainsbury (see story at right). The death in Wellington of the 17-year-old teen, who had not been named at press time, was the result of a crash near Takapau on Monday and raised the national Easter road toll to 12. The names of the three who died in the Dannevirke crash had not been released this morning but included a 36-year-old father and his 2-year-old. His partner, who had been sleeping in the vehicle, suffered broken bones. Police believe the man's vehicle crossed the centre line of State Highway 2 where it intersects with Otanga Rd, north of Dannevirke, and was in a head-on collision with a car carrying two elderly women. One of the women, aged 73, died at the scene, as did the girl. The second elderly woman, who had broken ribs, plus the mother and father of the 2-year-old, were flown by the Square Trust Rescue Helicopter and Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter to Palmerston North Hospital. The man died in hospital shortly after midnight. This morning, the 2-year-old's mother was in a serious condition and the elderly woman was described as serious but stable and sedated. Senior Sergeant Mark Revill-Johnson, from Dannevirke Police, said it appeared both vehicles had been on their way home when the accident happened at 10pm. "Three deaths from a community of this size has a serious impact," Mr Revill-Johnson said. The road remained closed until 1.30am and the serious-crash unit continued investigations today. The 17-year-old from Monday's crash at Takapau died from her injuries overnight. She was believed to have been visiting Central Hawke's Bay and on her way home from working at a dairy farm when she lost control of her vehicle.
