A young driver who crashed into a truck carrying stock feed might have been blinded by dust on the rural road, police say. Photo / File
A young driver who crashed into a truck carrying stock feed might have been blinded by dust on the rural road, police say. Photo / File
A young driver who crashed into a truck carrying stock feed might have been blinded by dust on the rural road, police say.
Yesterday's death of the man, thought to be in his 20s and local, brought the holiday road toll to six after five fatal crashes across the country.
He was killed shortly after noon at Bankside, near Rakaia in Canterbury.
Shingle was fanning up large clouds of dust from vehicles. Senior Sergeant Peter Stills said the driver, the car's sole occupant, may not have seen the second of two oncoming trucks.
The car hit the second truck and was pushed off the road into a fence.
It hit a Nissan ute heading towards Paihia, spun and hit a BMW station wagon waiting to turn out of the campground.
Two other people in the Corolla were injured, one seriously.
On Monday, 65-year-old Tauranga man Raymond Allen Valere Morreel died while motorbiking with family members on State Highway 28 in Te Poi. He reared calves on a lifestyle block he and his wife Ann owned for over 20 years.
Omanawa Rd residents Robyn and Robert Broxholme said they had known Mr Morreel and his wife for at least 21 years.
"Ray was a really good neighbour and a great guy," Mrs Broxholme said.
On Boxing Day Ngatokorua Tangimataiti, 80, and her 57-year-old daughter Are Tito died in a head-on crash south of Tokoroa.
They were travelling on State Highway 1 after leaving a whanau gathering.
Family spokesman Teariki Mataki-Kaiaruna said the pair would be remembered for their generosity and community spirit. He said about 600 people were expected for their funeral tomorrow in Tokoroa.
People's driving behaviour has not been safe.
Two people died in crashes on Christmas Day. A French tourist died in a three-car crash in Northland and John Edward Davie, 57, of Ranui, died in a bicycle accident.
National road policing manager Superintendent Steve Greally said there had been too many crashes since the holiday period began.
"Some families have already had their Christmas holiday ruined by these tragedies." - Additional reporting Sandra Conchie, Peter de Graaf, Stephanie Arthur-Worsop
