Northland news in brief: Truck crash, Bream Bay rescue, Jubilee Park fire

No-one was hurt when this truck crashed off the road near Waipu.

Ruakaka truck crash

Police are investigating an incident in which a truck went off the road, crashed through a fence and smashed into trees. The truck was heading along State Highway 1 south at Mata, just south of Whangarei, about 3am on Saturday when it veered off the road. St John paramedics arrived but the truck driver did not require medical attention. Ruakaka police are investigating.

Crash accused to appear

A 19-year-old Aucklander charged with causing the death of a Northland mother and daughter is expected to appear in court for the first time today. The man is facing two charges of drink driving causing death, two of careless driving causing death and another of failing to stop to ascertain injury or death. He could not attend two previous cases in the North Shore District Court and Whangarei District Court as he was still recovering from his own injuries at Auckland City Hospital. The silver sedan he was driving collided head-on with a people mover vehicle on State Highway 1 at Topuni on the night of March 30, killing Janiah Fairburn and her 2-year-old daughter Azarliyah Hadfield. Fairburn's partner, Henare Hadfield, suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung in the crash.

Rescue off Bream Bay

A lasercraft with one person on board was safely towed to Marsden Cove after it broke down near the Hen and Chickens Islands, 22km off Bream Bay. Sergeant Phil Halton of Whangarei police said the 5.6m lasercraft broke down just before 11am yesterday. Police assistance was not required as Coastguard arranged a tow. It was unclear where the sole occupant was from.

Jubilee Park fire

Another suspicious fire has been lit at the abandoned Jubilee Park in Whangārei.
The fire under the grandstand was seen at around 4am on Saturday morning and attended by two appliances and crews from Whangārei Fire Brigade. It is at least the fourth deliberately lit fire of structures or buildings at the former rugby league park in three years.

Lotto winners

Three Lotto players from Auckland and Invercargill hit the Lotto jackpot in Saturday's live Lotto draw, each taking home $333,333 with Lotto First Division. The winning tickets were sold at Countdown Botany and Weymouth Superette in Auckland and Otatara Four Square in Invercargill. Powerball was not struck and has rolled over to Wednesday night, where the jackpot will be $16 million. Strike Four has also rolled over and will be $500,000 on Wednesday. The winning Lotto numbers on Saturday were 1, 8, 10, 18, 26, 28 with Bonus number 31 and Powerball 2.