Speed claims 28-year-old's life

Firefighters at the scene of the crash on Western Hills Drive. Photo / John Stone

A fatal crash involving a speeding driver on a suburban Northland road is the second this week and has a road safety official calling for motorists to slow down.

A 28-year-old man died in his badly damaged car after crashing into a four-wheel drive vehicle pulling out of a driveway, opposite Kensington Avenue, onto Western Hills Drive about 7.40am yesterday.

It is the second fatal crash in Northland this week of a driver travelling at excessive speed on a suburban street. On Monday 21-year-old Rutene Wikotu, of Kaitaia, died on Allen Bell Drive after a high-speed crash which left his car wrapped around a tree.

Yesterday police had reports of a north-bound vehicle speeding on Western Hills Drive, in Whangarei. Only moments later the vehicle hit the four-wheel-drive in a 50km/h zone.

Serious Crash Investigator Senior Constable Jim Hawthorn said speed was a factor in the crash. The driver of the four-wheel-drive was taken to Whangarei Hospital with moderate injuries.

Police want to speak to any witnesses in the area at the time who may have seen the crash and the northbound black Mitsubishi Libero before the crash. They would also like to speak to the driver of a late-model light blue Volkswagen car.

The death brings Northland's 2013 road toll to 14.

RoadSafety spokeswoman Gillian Archer said speeding drivers in built up areas was a serious issue and put vulnerable people such as children and pedestrians at risk.

"People have to realise the speed limits are there for a purpose and that's to keep the community safe. Taking the weight off the accelerator could mean the difference between life and death."

Mrs Archer appealed to drivers to slow down and bide by the posted speed limits.

"Even if a crash is not avoidable it will be survivable. This is about people driving at survivable speeds."

A neighbour on Western Hills Drive said she was not surprised there had been a fatal crash and described the short section of road where the fatality occurred as "dangerous".

There was a right-of-way where many children live, they were forced to cross the road with little visibility as traffic came up over the brow of the hill.

Anyone with information about yesterday's crash can contact Whangarei Police on 09 430 4525 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.