Wildlife smuggler killed in South Island crash

UPDATE

A notorious wildlife smuggler was one of two people who died in a crash on State Highway 1 near Gore yesterday.

Police say 43-year-old Freddie Angell of Mossburn was killed instantly when his car collided head-on with another car approximately 2km east of Pukerau about 3pm.

A 65-year-old Gore woman travelling in the second car died at the scene. Her 65-year-old husband, who was driving, was taken by helicopter to Dunedin Hospital with moderate chest injuries. Their names have not been released.

A family of three, from Christchurch, were uninjured when their car collided with the first two vehicles.

Angell had served four jail terms for poaching and smuggling wildlife such as tuatara and lizards.

He was deported from Australia last year after allegedly entering Australia on a false passport.