Lavina and Danny Bisschop, friends of the man who died in a car crash on Friday, with their 1952 Ford twin spinner in the Octagon yesterday. Photo / Peter McIntosh
Lavina and Danny Bisschop, friends of the man who died in a car crash on Friday, with their 1952 Ford twin spinner in the Octagon yesterday. Photo / Peter McIntosh
The event to which the man killed in a car crash near Dunedin on Friday was heading may be named in his honour next year.
Stuart Ernest Windle, 64, of Kaikoura, died at the scene of the five-car crash north of Dunedin that injured six others, while heading south to take part in the Hurricane Rodders Mid Winter Run in the city.
The crash occurred on State Highway 1 near the intersection of Apes Rd, about 5km south of Waikouaiti, on a busy Friday night as Queen's Birthday weekend holiday-makers left Dunedin.
It was the first death in a Queen's Birthday toll that today reached seven.
That put the official road toll above last year's count for all three days.
Mr Windle's vehicle, two other custom cars and a late model sports car were travelling south to the Mid Winter Run on Friday when the crash occurred about 5.45pm.
Damaged vehicles were strewn across the highway after the crash.
Mr Windle's Ford was down a bank nearby.
Watch: Holiday weekend crash in Mangere
Emergency services personnel said at the scene it appeared a vehicle had crossed the centre line on a corner.
Mid Winter Run participants displayed their cars in the Octagon yesterday.
Friends said Mr Windle loved the 1937 Ford Cabriolet convertible in which he lost his life.
Danny Bisschop said Mr Windle had lived in Dunedin in the past, before moving to Kaikoura, and was about to move to Christchurch.
Mr Bisschop described him as "a great guy, so thoughtful''.
"We're just gutted, because he was coming down to spend some time with us.''