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Blair Jackson / Stuff
Emergency services attend to an accident on the Riverton-Wallacetown highway on Monday.
A rural fire marshal urges road users to slow down and pay attention as the holiday season is marred by deaths.
On Monday, a dairy tanker and a motorcycle collided on State Highway 99 outside of Wallacetown.
Kareen Marie Malcolm and James Lennon Malcolm, both 61 and from Invercargill, were killed in the crash, police said Tuesday. Investigations into the circumstances of the accident continued, police said.
As of Tuesday afternoon, eight people had died on New Zealand’s roads since the official holiday period began at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
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Wallacetown Volunteer Fire Brigade Fire Chief Blair Eade urged drivers to pay attention and slow down on the roads.
There have been a series of fatal and serious accidents near Wallacetown in recent months that his squad has been called in.
Eade said it was pure luck that there were no more deaths after a car left a bridge and into the Makarewa River on October 31.
Matthew Dale Harris, 22, and his young daughter, Ruby Jane Harris, died after the vehicle they were in was struck by another vehicle at SH6, near Invercargill, on September 2.
Greg Olsen died in the hospital more than a week after his car was in an accident with a Fonterra tanker on SH99 near Wrights Bush on November 20.
Monday’s accident also involved a Fonterra tanker.
Police are still investigating the three fatal accidents.
Eade said that before police finished investigating the causes could not be known, but people were making poor decisions when driving, such as speeding or not paying attention.
John Hawkins / Things
Blair Eade, chief fire officer for the Wallacetown Volunteer Fire Brigade. [File photo]
“Slow down and go home to your families,” Eade said.
The effects on first responders were difficult, he said, but the support from Fire and Emergency New Zealand was good.
The fatal accidents on November 20 and December 28 occurred about four miles apart.
The holiday period has taken on a gloomy tone in the south.
On Sunday, Jake Bridson, 23, died freediving in the Catlins.
And Lucy Williams, 17, of Clinton, died on December 26 after weeks on life support following an accident near Balclutha on December 5.
