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Police were notified of the two vehicle collision on Nikau Rd at 4:58 am. Image / Google Maps
One person was killed after a two-vehicle collision in Pahiatua, raising the holiday highway toll to seven.
Police were notified of the accident on Nikau Rd at 4.58 am.
Another person suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital.
The road remains closed and police have warned motorists to avoid the area.
It comes after two people were killed in an accident between a milk tanker and a motorcycle in Southland yesterday.
A man died at the scene on the Riverton-Wallacetown highway, while a woman died at the hospital shortly after.
In another accident, the deaths of two promising young men on Boxing Day has had a ripple effect of grief throughout the West Auckland community.
Jack Heritage Jr. and Viliami Muru-Teutau, both 20, were killed after an accident on the Triangle Rd bridge that connects Massey and Henderson.
Two others were taken to hospital.
The grieving father, Jack Heritage Snr, told the Herald that the family had been comforted by the large number of people who had visited to pay their respects.
Her “good-hearted” son made friends easily, Heritage said yesterday.
“I’ve been telling them, ‘I don’t want your parents to go through what we’re going through now.’
“It is so painful.”
Muru-Teutau’s family previously issued a statement describing the young father as a naturally talented athlete who loved rugby.
He was a former Maori Under-18 player from New Zealand, who played for a New South Wales team last year, before returning home to play for the Waitematā Rugby Club main team.
As a roofing apprentice, he was working hard to complete his business training to support his young family.
“Our world has been turned upside down and upside down,” the family statement said.
“This is supposed to be a holiday season of festive bliss, and instead, we are crying and grieving.”
The first victims of the Christmas road toll occurred on Christmas Day with the deaths of Terry Charleston, 34, and Rebecca McAlees, 24, after a single vehicle accident in southeast Auckland.
Charleston’s brother, Jason Ward, spoke to the Herald to urge drivers to slow down and be careful on the road.
“Don’t speed up,” Ward urged motorists. “If you are going to accelerate there is a race track [for that]. “
