Holiday toll reaches 12

Holiday road toll (4pm December 24th - 6am January 5th)

One person is dead and three others have minor injuries after a crash on the Hibiscus Coast, north of Auckland today.

Two cars collided close to the intersection of Schischka Rd and the Hibiscus Coast Highway, at Wenderholm, about 10.30am, police said.

The road is closed and traffic heading in both directions is being diverted via State Highway 1 through the Johnson Hill Tunnels.

Police warn that traffic returning to Auckland after the holiday break is likely to suffer delays and drivers are encouraged to use the alternative State Highway 16 from Wellsford south.

The latest fatality brings the Xmas/New Year holiday road toll to 12.

Yesterday, two people died when the vehicle they were in crashed off the road in Northland just before 6am.

A third occupant was injured in the crash.

The holiday period began at 4pm on December 24 and ends tomorrow at 6am.

During the Xmas/New Year period last year, 25 people died.

- NZPA