Crash takes Easter road toll to four

The Easter road toll has risen to four following a crash in Waitemata today.

A woman died after her car and a truck collided on the Coatesville Riverhead Highway between the Riverhead turnoff on State Highway 16 and Old Railway Road, about 7.20am, police said.

The woman, who was trapped in the car, died at the scene.

No other injuries were reported.

Diversions would be in place for some time as the Serious Crash Unit processed the scene, police said.

Video: Raw: Fatal crash in Kumeu

Police have warned motorists they would be out in force today in a crackdown on speeding, distracted and alcohol-fuelled drivers as holiday makers head home.

The long weekend got off to a bad start on the roads, with three deaths within the first 12 hours of the holiday period.

Another three people died as a result of crashes on Thursday before the start of the official road toll period.

Acting road policing national manager Inspector Nic Brown said today there would be a higher number of vehicles on the road and the distances that people were travelling would be further as they returned from their holiday destinations.

"We know people are going to make mistakes but the thing is, it shouldn't cost anybody their life or limb," Mr Brown said.

"The indication is with those three fatalities and I don't want to speculate on specific cases it does come back to your speed, whether you're wearing a restraint or not. It's really simple behaviour."

Last year's road Easter road toll was three, while there were no deaths in 2012. The highest recorded number of deaths was 21 in 1971.

As with other holiday periods, police have lowered their tolerance of speeding drivers to 4km/h, and Mr Brown encouraged drivers to watch their speed and give themselves time to react.

Easter road toll so far

*

Yulane Cadigan, a 44-year-old woman from Twizel died died in a crash on the Fairlie-Tekapo Rd in South Canterbury about 5.20pm on Thursday.

* Helensville woman Alofaifo Afaese, 40, died instantly when the Mitsubishi Pajero she was travelling in with her husband and two of their children was involved in a head-on collision on SH16 west of Kumeu at 7pm on Thursday.

* About 3.15am on Friday, pedestrian Alan Hammond, 80, of Ashburton, was struck by a vehicle on the Hinds-Rangitata Highway in South Canterbury.

* A woman died in a collision with a truck at Waitemata about 7.20am today.