A Kaikohe woman who suffered severe internal injuries when thrown from a car which then rolled on top of her has died in hospital.
The 34-year-old was one of two occupants of a vehicle that crashed on Otiria Road, Moerewa, in the early hours of March 28.
Both women were thrown from the vehicle, which came to rest upside-down with the driver trapped underneath.
Volunteers from the Kawakawa and Kaikohe fire brigade used airbags and spreading equipment to lift the car off the driver, who was flown by the Northland Electricity Rescue Helicopter to Whangarei Hospital with spinal and internal injuries. It is understood she had undergone spinal surgery but died in hospital on April 5 as a result of her internal injuries. The passenger was taken to Bay of Islands Hospital in Kawakawa with moderate injuries.
The Serious Crash Unit, which investigates all fatal accidents, is reconstructing the events leading up to the woman's death. A specialist investigator spent yesterday afternoon mapping the crash site where Moerewa's 50km/h zone begins.
Police say alcohol and fatigue were suspected factors. It is believed the dead woman was not wearing a seat belt. Tyre marks suggest the car drifted off a straight section of Otiria Rd into a ditch before hitting a culvert and rolling.
As the woman's death was within 28 days of the crash, it will count towards Northland's road toll for 2015, which now stands at six. Northland's road toll for 2014 was 19 deaths from 16 crashes. The previous year there were 21 road deaths.