By Scott MacLeod
HAMILTON Wet weather is believed to have contributed to a weekend of carnage on northern roads.
The first of four deaths happened 1km south of Putaruru at 9pm on Friday when Auckland hitch-hiker David Colin Murray, aged 28, died after being hit by a car.
Police yesterday said they
were still investigating the circumstances and appealed for witnesses. Rain was probably a factor.
The worst smash was at 10.30am on Saturday when a southbound Toyota car slammed head-on into a northbound Mitsubishi Mirage at eight-mile junction, 12 km south of Te Kuiti. A man and two women in the Mirage were killed instantly, and the Toyota driver seriously hurt.
Inspector Bill Harrison said steady rain may have contributed to the smash, in which the Toyota apparently crossed the centre-line. Traffic was diverted through paddocks for four hours.
The names of the dead were not available yesterday.
Less than an hour later, seven people were hospitalised when a van hit a car and rolled on Gordonton Rd, Hamilton. One child was flung through the van's windscreen. Ambulance staff said injuries ranged from serious to minor.
A 7-year-old boy was critically injured near the Brynderwyn Tearooms, 25km north of Wellsford, when his southbound car lost control on a corner and smashed into a truck. He was flown to Northland Base Hospital in Whangarei before being transferred to Starship in Auckland.
Another child in the back seat suffered moderate injuries.
Pictured: Driving became more of a splash in Takapuna yesterday afternoon. HERALD PICTURE / MARTIN SYKES
