Rescuer tells of fiery mayhem

The wreckage of the Mitsubishi Diamante car which was involved in a fiery crash with a Ford Falcon. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Fred Walters was watching TV at home in Buckland, near Pukekohe, on Tuesday night when he heard a loud crash.

About 50m up the road two cars had collided head-on after the driver of one overtook another vehicle and lost control on a 65km/h corner.

Four people in the overtaking car - including a 5-year-old - died.

It is understood they lived in the Pukekohe area.

The impact was so severe it caused the overtaking vehicle, which was almost torn open, to burst into flames.

Mr Walters said his house had shuddered. "The shaking was pretty violent and I knew it was bad, really bad. Then my flatmate, who is a volunteer fireman, came running past and said it [was] an accident."

As the pair headed for the crash scene - a straight stretch of road 4km north of Tuakau - Mr Walters could see flames and black smoke pouring from one of the cars.

His partner, Lorelle Neil, stayed at their home with their 12-week-old daughter, Jordan. Ms Neil said she could see the flames and hear a man yelling, "Get him out, get him out".

Mr Walters and his friend helped to free a man who was travelling in the other car involved in the head-on collision.

They also moved a man who was near the first vehicle unconscious, but could not see inside the smouldering car, which was too dangerous to go near.

Mr Walters said they could not see or hear anyone in the car. "I assumed the guy near the Falcon was the sole occupant. There was so much smoke and flames and ... a couple of explosions."

It was when fire crews doused the flames that Mr Walters and his mate saw the full extent of the accident.

"That was when we saw there were other people inside the car," he said.

"It was pretty devastating."

About the same time, the man they had pulled away from the first vehicle died after paramedics had tried for 20 minutes to revive him.

Police said the child was also thrown from the car, and two other adults were found inside.

The man they pulled from the second car is in Middlemore Hospital with multiple injuries.

By yesterday, most of the evidence of the crash had been swept away save shattered windscreen glass and twisted and burned pieces of debris.

A few hundred metres from the crash a Franklin District Council road sign reads, "Speed Kills".

Other neighbours blame excessive speed for at least half a dozen accidents they say have happened in the same area over the past year.

"You always get some idiot driving too fast on that corner," said a Buckland Rd resident of 24 years.

Inspector Gary Hill, of Counties Manukau police, said those at the crash would be offered counselling.

"Staff who have been around for a number of years ... say it's been one of the most horrific scenes they have attended.... I would just like to acknowledge their excellent work."

He added: "People need to drive in a safe manner and at a safe speed."