One dead in Frasertown van crash

A MAN died, another suffered serious injuries and two others suffered minor injuries last night when the small van they were in rolled on the side of Awamate Road in Frasertown near Wairoa.

Police, St John Ambulance, the Wairoa volunteer fire brigade and a Hawke’s Bay rescue helicopter were called out at around 7.30pm.

The crash scene was between Huramua Road East and Bell Road on Awamate Road.

“We had to cut two people out of the van. One was deceased and the other had some injuries,” a Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman said.

One man in the van suffered serious injuries and was flown by rescue helicopter to hospital in Hastings.

A spokeswoman for Hawke’s Bay Hospital in Hastings this morning said he was in a critical condition in the intensive care ward.

Wairoa ambulance transported the two other injured men, aged 18 and 22, to Wairoa Hospital.

“Both had minor injuries and were later treated and discharged from hospital,” an ambulance spokesman said.

The Serious Crash Unit from Gisborne last night began an investigation.

“We are unable to release the name of the 22-year-old man who died at this stage,” said Wairoa senior sergeant Tony Bates.

“All next of kin have yet to be informed.”