Three die during Waitangi weekend

Rescue workers at the scene of a fatal car crash in Waitakere. Photo / New Zealand Herald / Jason Dorday

Three people have died on the country's roads so far over the Waitangi weekend.

In the first fatality a 62-year-old man died in a single vehicle crash in Southland on Friday night.

The crash happened about 8.25pm on Heddon Bush Rd, Dunearn.

Yesterday a tourist, understood to have been from Israel, died when the van she was travelling in crossed the centre line and travelled through a paddock before rolling a couple of times down a steep 40m bank, police say.

A rented white Hyundai mini-van carrying six occupants left Greta Road (State Highway One) and plunged down a 40 to 50m bank. Photo / Supplied by Westpac Rescue

It was understood the vehicle had been rented by three Israeli couples in their 60's and 70's who have been in the country for about a week, TVNZ News reported.

The crash happened State Highway 1 near Greta Valley shortly before 10.20am, about 1km south of the Hurunui River Bridge.

The vehicle's five other occupants were taken to Christchurch Hospital by air and road, police said.

Today, a person died in a car crash on a semi-rural road in Waitakere, Auckland.

The scene of a fatal car crash in Waitakere. Photo / New Zealand Herald / Jason Dorday

Inspector Willy Taylor said the car had left the road at McEntee Road and landed on its roof.

No other cars were involved in the crash.

Last week police urged drivers to take care during the weekend.

A spokesman today said they would not comment on the road toll until the weekend period officially cam to an end tomorrow at 6am.

Meanwhile, a man was seriously injured after a collision between a car and truck near National Park yesterday.

The crash happened on State Highway 4 at Erua, about 8pm, Greenlea Rescue Helicopter pilot Nat Every said.

The man, thought to be in his late 50s, was the sole occupant in the car.

The truck driver was also taken to hospital, suffering a broken leg, Mr Every said.

And further south, a 25-year-old Alexandra man suffered serious head injuries after falling from a van travelling at 100km/h, police say.

The incident happened on State Highway 8 north of Clyde about 9pm yesterday.

Witnesses said the man was attempting to climb out of a window of the van and fell out of the vehicle in the process, Senior Sergeant Darryl Lennane said.