KEY POINTS:
An English tourist was tonight named as one of three victims on Easter holiday roads so far.
Blenheim police said the dead man, Adam James Birdsey, 23, was one of five English tourists in a campervan which collided with a Toyota Hilux Surf yesterday on the outskirts of
Blenheim.
The accident happened at the intersection of Old Renwick Rd and Jacksons Rd about 9am. There were three people in the Hilux.
Sergeant Michael Irving, of Blenheim police, said both vehicles were extensively damaged, with the Hilux, which was towing a boat, catching fire.
Several local residents tried to put out the fire and managed to drag the Hilux's occupants free.
All seven survivors from the two vehicles were tonight recovering in Wellington and Blenheim hospitals.
Police named the surviving English tourists as David McCallum, 23, Ian Mills, 22, Dean Clark, 22, and Samuel Barber.
The occupants of the Hilux were Bruce Craig, 55, his wife Barbara Craig, 51, and their son Jordan Craig, 18, all of Christchurch.
Although three of the victims were originally described as being in critical conditions, a police spokesman said today they were all expected to make a full recovery.
A Featherston man who died after his car hit a tree just north of Greytown early yesterday morning was named today as Raymond Tuigamala, 22.
Sergeant Chris Megaw said it appeared Mr Tuigamala lost control on a bend as he was travelling north.
His car hit a tree and rolled down a bank.
"The bank was not very high, probably about two metres, but because of the position of the car, and the colour of it, it was obscured from view," Mr Megaw said.
A person who stopped to look at an old farmhouse nearby discovered the car about 3pm.
In Pukekohe, a 22-year-old man died after the motorbike he was riding left the road in the township south of Auckland.
Police said the accident happened on Station Rd about 2.30pm yesterday.
The man's name has yet to be released.
Meanwhile late this afternoon the Karangahake Gorge in the Hauraki district was temporarily closed after a truck rolled, blocking both lanes.
Police said there were only minor injuries, but heavy lifting gear would be needed to shift the truck and motorists were advised there would be long delays.
- NZPA
