Killed by a banned driver

Police say this light truck crossed the centreline on SH 26 at Newstead near Hamilton and crashed into another vehicle killing both drivers. Photo / Stephen Barker

A light truck driver who died in a head-on smash that killed another motorist was banned from driving.

And police are testing a suspicious substance found in his vehicle and investigating if he was on his cellphone when the collision occurred.

Jarrad Malcolm Townsend, 32, crossed the centreline on State Highway 26 near Hamilton on Saturday into the path of a truck being driven by Hugh Leonard Ferguson, 61.

Both men died - the 48th and 49th victims on Waikato roads this year.

Last night, police revealed Mr Townsend was disqualified and said they would ask cellphone companies if he was using his mobile. They would also test a "suspicious" substance found in his vehicle to determine if it was an illegal drug.

A family friend of Mr Ferguson, Sue Lalich, was devastated to hear of Mr Townsend's disqualification and would inform his widow, Christine. High-risk drivers, such as those disqualified, were responsible for 35 per cent of fatal crashes in NZ between 2005 and 2009, Ministry of Transport figures show. As many as 67,000 drivers are disqualified each year.

Mr Ferguson, a father and grandfather, was transporting a roller from Hamilton when the crash happened at Newstead. His 18-year-old passenger suffered a broken leg.

Residents heard a loud bang and found debris scattered across the road. The impact ripped the front of both trucks off.

Waikato road policing manager Inspector Leo Tooman said the accident was a reminder of the danger of crossing the centreline.

"It sends a signal that if you cross the centreline, the chances of being involved in a crash are very, very high. If you go over to the other side of the road it's no man's land - we can only reiterate you must keep left."

Asked what could have led to the accident, he said there had been talk Mr Townsend might have been on the phone, "but until we get hold of Telecom to check the times we can't say for sure".

Mr Tooman was keeping an open mind what the substance was. "It could be washing powder. We won't know until it's analysed."

Mr Townsend's father, Malcolm Cribb, said he didn't believe it was an illegal drug. He didn't know his son had been disqualified.

Mr Cribb said he could not talk about the crash until he had received a report from the police. He had only seen a report about possible drugs. "I think that's on the nose because there's no proof if it is drugs. They [the police] still have to confirm that."

He said the light truck his son was driving was a work vehicle and his son often had breakfast on the way to work. The substance could have been an ingredient like flour in his breakfast.

"It could have been something like that. Who knows? I don't know."

Mr Cribb was upset the information was released before his family and Mr Ferguson's had been told.

The double tragedy took the Waikato road toll to 49 for the year at a time when nationally, the number of road deaths is declining. New Zealand is heading for the lowest road toll in decades.

"It also means two families will be without loved ones this Christmas," Mr Tooman said. "We want drivers to maintain their attention on the roads. A moment's hesitation can spell disaster for not only that driver but innocent parties as well."

Saturday's was the second fatal accident on that stretch of road in a week. On Monday, an elderly woman drove through a stop sign and was hit by a truck.