Fatal crash gridlocks Whangarei

Northland's third fatal accident in three days gridlocked central Whangarei yesterday.
An elderly woman pedestrian died after she was involved in a collision with a car near Victoria Bridge, in the Town Basin area. Her name was not avilable.
Traffic restrictions have been in place in the area this week in advance of a major roading project. The collision and restrictions combined yesterday to bring traffic to a standstill with vehicles backed up in all directions. Onerahi-bound traffic was redirected through Whareora Rd, before a nearby one-way bridge was changed to allow two-way traffic.
Whangarei police Sergeant Steve Dixon said the woman died after being struck by the car while crossing at lights near Victoria Bridge at 2.30pm. Police used a forensic mapping tool to map out the accident site while an ever-increasing stream of traffic heading to Onerahi was diverted over the adjacent bridge until about 3.30pm.
The young driver of the four-door sedan involved in the collision sat on a footpath on the bridge, head in hands, while a police officer interviewed him. A woman consoled him as he wept.
Aisha Gardener, 22, said she drove off on a green light toward Victoria Bridge when she saw an elderly woman walking slowly across the approaches of the bridge. "He (the young driver) tried to dodge her. He was travelling at normal take-off speed. It was a shock when he hit her," she said.
Northland traffic boss Inspector Rob Lindsay said three deaths in three days was a sad reminder for motorists to take it easy over the busy Christmas/New Year period.
"Over the next few months ... that is our danger time."
Before this week, Northland had gone two-and-a-half months without a fatal crash, Mr Lindsay said.
Whangarei District Council roading manager Jeff Devine said he had spoken to contractor Fulton Hogan, which is carrying out the demolition of the nearby A&P; Building, and the company had confirmed the traffic restrictions in the area were not connected to the accident.
"But obviously we will have to take into account any police investigations into it," he said. The council would constantly review the traffic restrictions and change them whenever possible to improve traffic flows.
Yesterday's accident followed the death of Wayne William Buss, 46, of Glenbervie, north-east of Whangarei, in a collision between his four-wheel-drive vehicle and a logging truck at Ruakaka, south of Whangarei. On Wednesday, Patrick George Vujcich, 81, died on State Highway 1F, Waiharara, 16km north-west of Awanui, after the car he was driving collided with a stock truck and trailer carrying cattle.