Two killed on roads

Two more people died in crashes on New Zealand roads today following a horrific weekend during which six other people died.

A 24-year-old Auckland man died this morning when the car he was driving crossed the centre line on State Highway 2 near Maramarua in Waikato and smashed into a truck.

Senior Sergeant Pete Simpson of Huntly police said the Honda Integra was travelling towards Auckland at about 6am when the driver failed to take a moderate left-hand bend and hit the truck.

The truck driver was not hurt in the crash, which forced emergency services to close the highway for about five hours.

Police were still seeking witnesses to the crash and notifying the deceased man's family.

Earlier, a fatal crash between a logging truck and a truck has blocked Otaika Valley Road, south of Whangarei.

Police were at the scene of the collision and diversions were put in place.

The death was the eighth in seven crashes from Northland to Canterbury since Saturday morning.


- NZHERALD STAFF / NZPA