Killer piece of road claims two more lives

Picture / Greg Bowker

Two people are dead after a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 2, at Mangatawhiri, at about 1.20pm yesterday.

The occupants of the other vehicle were uninjured.

The road around the scene, south of Auckland, remained closed for up to four hours.

The Serious Crash Unit is investigating the incident.

The crash site makes up part of the Waikato's blackest stretch of road.

On State Highway 2 from the end of Auckland's Southern Motorway through Maramarua to the Thames turnoff near Mangatarata, there have been at least 30 fatal crashes since 2001.

At the end of last year the speed limit on the section of highway between Pokeno and the intersection with SH25 near Mangatarata was reduced from 100km/h to 90km/h. Abby Gillies, APNZ

The crash site is part of Waikato's blackest stretch of road, with at least 30 fatal crashes since 2001.