Waikato road death toll up after two weekend crashes

Waikato’s road death toll for the month has risen to three after two serious crashes over the weekend.

One crash left two people dead. The other resulted in one person being transported to hospital in a serious to critical condition.

According to the Ministry of Transport’s provisional data, as of today, three people have died on Waikato roads so far this month.

Last year, the total provisional road death toll for the region as of January 31 was four.

The news comes after two serious crashes in Waikato over the weekend.

Two people died after a single-vehicle crash on Mapara Rd, at Acacia Bay on Friday night.

A police statement said emergency services were alerted to the crash about 11.45pm.

“Two people died at the scene,” police said.

Diversions were in place overnight while the Serious Crash Unit carried out an examination.

The road reopened shortly after 7am on Saturday.

On Saturday night a serious crash on the Waikato Expressway at Tamahere resulted in one person being seriously injured.

Police issued an alert just before 8pm on Saturday advising motorists to avoid using the Cambridge Rd on and off-ramps and the Alfred Main Drive off-ramp.

“Motorists are advised of a serious crash on the Waikato Expressway which has blocked on and off-ramps,” police said.

According to the alert, the crash involved one vehicle and happened shortly after 7pm at Tamahere.

“There is serious injury involved and the Serious Crash Unit has been advised.”

A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said two ambulances and one operations manager responded to the incident.

“One patient was transported to Waikato Hospital in a serious to critical condition,” the spokesperson said.

Waikato is the region with the highest road death toll in the country. In 2024, 52 people died as a result of road accidents in the region.

In a statement released earlier this month, director road policing Superintendent Steve Greally said police needed drivers to “do their bit” by making “sensible decisions before they get behind the wheel and when they’re on the road”.

The role of the motorist was “very simple”.

“Ensure everyone in your vehicle is safely buckled up, drive at a safe speed for the conditions under the speed limit, put your cell phone away, and ensure you’re driving free of fatigue, alcohol, and drugs.”

Greally urged those travelling over the summer period to take heed of this advice, have patience and get to where they’re going safely.

Maryana Garcia is a Hamilton-based reporter covering breaking news in Waikato. She previously wrote for the Rotorua Daily Post and Bay of Plenty Times.