Fatal crash in Far North: One dead, another seriously injured taken to hospital

Emergency Services are investigating the cause of a fatal crash in the Far North.

One person has died and another is in serious condition after a single-vehicle crash in the Far North.

The tragedy brings the Christmas holiday road toll to 11.

Police were alerted to the crash on Russell Whakapara Rd near Russell at 11.39am.

Northland’s Serious Crash analyst Jeff Cramp confirmed the driver of the vehicle had died and the passenger with serious injuries was taken to hospital.

Cramp said the vehicle lost control while taking a tight right-hand bend, went off the road’s left shoulder and crashed into the trees.

Police had earlier closed the road between Waikare and De Nora Rd and traffic management was put in place. Emergency services have now cleared the debris and the road was reopened around 4pm.

The fatal crash brings the Northland road toll to 36, two fewer than in 2022, which had the highest total in 10 years.

The crash brings the holiday road toll in Aotearoa to 11.

Other holiday fatal crashes were reported in the Bay of Plenty where a person died in a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 29, Lower Kaimai, on December 28. On the day same day in Mount Maunganui, another person died after a crash between a truck and a car.

The day prior, a woman was found dead after a quad bike crash in Rauparaha St in Marokopa. Another died after a crash in Prebbleton southwest of Christchurch on Boxing Day.

On Christmas Day, one person died after a single-vehicle crash on Methven Highway (State Highway 77) in the suburb of Allenton near Ashburton. On December 23, three people died in separate crashes on Saturday.

The same evening, a motorist died in a single-vehicle crash about 8pm in Te Ahu Ahu Rd, Northland. Then on Christmas Eve, a female died after fleeing a police checkpoint in Whangārei.

Avneesh Vincent is the crime and emergency services reporter at the Advocate. He was previously at the Gisborne Herald as the arts and environment reporter and is passionate about covering stories that can make a difference. He joined NZME in July 2023.