Second person dies after crash near Foxton - taking road toll to 10 in four days

The road is closed and diversions are in place following the crash. Photo / File

A second person has now died after a serious crash near Foxton - taking the road toll up to 10 in a span of four days.

Police confirmed the second death this evening.

Emergency services were called to State Highway 1, Foxton, after reports of a crash.

The road has been closed and a diversion is in place through Motuiti Rd. The serious crash unit is also at the scene.

Motorists in the area are asked to follow the directions of emergency services on-site, to expect delays, or avoid the area if possible.

SH1 FOXTON, MANAWATU-WHANGANUI - SERIOUS CRASH - 3:50PM
Due to a serious #crash, the road is CLOSED between Motuiti Road and Victoria Street. Please follow directions of emergency services on-site and expect delays. ^CR pic.twitter.com/6PyZFPi8tu

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Central North Island (@WakaKotahiCNI) November 19, 2018

The fatal incident takes the tally of road deaths to 10 from Friday morning until today.

The latest Ministry of Transport figures show 333 people had died on the country's roads as of yesterday in the year to date - five more than at the same time last year.

Last year 378 people died on New Zealand roads, the highest since 2009, when 384 people lost their lives. The next worst toll was in 2007 with 421 dead.

Earlier this year, 12 people died between August 27 and September 2.

At the time it was the fourth worst week on our roads this year - the worst occurring between June 25 to July 1 were 19 lives were lost.

The worst seven-day period since 1980 was in November 1985 and December 1997 when 31 people were killed on the country's roads, police said.