A German resident in New Zealand and a visiting German friend were today named as the second pair of people killed in a car crash near Auckland on Monday.
The accident, that killed four people and put three others in hospital with serious injuries, happened near Meremere, 64km south of Auckland,
about 7.15pm.
The German pair were Raimund Werner Josef Platzer, 57, who had been living in Auckland, and Christine Florich, 51, who was a tourist.
Mr Platzer was the driver of the car and Ms Florich was in the back seat when they were hit side-on by another car on the straight three-lane stretch of motorway, Constable Neil Williams of Huntly said.
A third front seat passenger, Sina Gloge, 19, was in Auckland Hospital and today listed as in a serious but stable condition. She suffered from multiple leg fractures and facial injuries.
The two killed in the other car were Ernest Rudolph, 19, and James Rudolph, 21, both passengers. The car's driver and a toddler were still in serious condition in hospital today.
Mr Williams said initial investigations showed one car had crossed the centre line, but the crash investigation team would be carrying out analysis of the area on Friday.
Their testing would close one lane, but would not close the road completely.
Yesterday, the holiday road toll reached 22 after a Scottish tourist crashed just south of Otaki, 20km southwest of Levin.
The 36-year-old lost control of his car because of a medical condition and the man's partner was unable to regain control of it. The car ran off the road and initially it appeared both suffered only minor injuries, but the man died later in hospital.
His name has not been released. Palmerston North police said they were attempting to identify the man and inform overseas relatives today.
The crash closed State Highway 1 for about 30 minutes yesterday.
Earlier deaths included Jacqualine Doreen Manukau, 28, who died instantly when her car hit trees in the Waikato town of Te Kauwhata just before 3pm on Monday.
Witnesses said the car failed to take a sweeping corner in the town's main street.
December's road toll reached 57 compared with 52 in December 2000, but last year's total number of road fatalities was 10 fewer than in 2000 at 452.
It was the lowest annual toll since 1964, when 428 people died.
- NZPA
A German resident in New Zealand and a visiting German friend were today named as the second pair of people killed in a car crash near Auckland on Monday.
The accident, that killed four people and put three others in hospital with serious injuries, happened near Meremere, 64km south of Auckland,
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