Three dead in crashes

An man died when his car hit a fence in Auckland. Photo / Steven McNicholl

A 6-year-old boy died during a horror day on North Island roads yesterday.

Two other people also died and a man was fighting for his life after a day of carnage.

In Northland, a car carrying two women and two children crashed though a fence and into a paddock at 2.30am at Waipu, south of Whangarei.

A 6-year-old-boy died at the scene, and the three other people involved received minor injuries. Police said no other vehicles were involved.

Meanwhile, at about 3.30pm yesterday a 55-year-old man died after crashing into a fence in West Auckland. The smash happened at the intersection of Great North and West Coast Rds, Kelston. A witness said the man's silver Honda sedan ploughed straight into the fence surrounding Kelston Girls' College. People rushed to help the stricken driver but he died despite attempts to resuscitate him.

An ambulance spokesman said the driver was found in cardiac arrest and no other vehicles appeared to be involved.

The serious crash unit is investigating and the name of the driver will be released once family have been advised.

Later in the afternoon, a motorcycle rider died after a collision with a car near Cambridge.

The rider died at the scene and the driver of the vehicle was taken in a serious condition to Waikato Hospital, a police spokesman said.

The road was closed for two hours and diversions were put in place.

Meanwhile, in Tokoroa police were interviewing a woman after a 20-year-old man was stuck by a car about noon. He was airlifted to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition.

"We are investigating the circumstances which led to his injuries and are currently speaking with a woman who is known to the injured man in relation to the incident," a police spokesman added.