Police name driver killed in Ruahapia Rd accident

A man who was killed in a two-car collision on Ruahapia Road near Hastings yesterday afternoon has been named. Photo/Warren Buckland

Police have named the man killed in a crash on the outskirts of Hastings yesterday afternoon.

He was John Gilbert MacDonald, 52, of Hastings, police said in a statement today.

Mr MacDonald was driving a Nissan Maxima when it collided with a ute on a bend on Ruahapia Rd off SH2 at 3.20pm yesterday.

The occupants of the ute - a mother and her three children - were all injured in the crash. A seven-year-old boy was flown to Starship Hospital in Auckland with critical injuries but is now in a stable condition. His mother and two sisters aged five and nine were treated in hospital and have since been discharged.

Senior Constable Cory Ubels of the Serious Crash Unit said police investigations into the crash were continuing and police wanted to hear from anyone who saw the light-coloured Nissan Maxima driving on Ruahapia Rd before the crash.

"We would like to speak to anyone who may have seen the Nissan Maxima on the road between Pakowhai Rd and SH2 just before the crash. It's important that we get as much information as possible to help us find out exactly what happened and how the two vehicles collided," Mr Ubels said.

Police also thanked several members of the public who helped at the crash scene, tending to the injured victims.

Anyone with information about the Nissan Maxima should contact Mr Ubels at Hawke's Bay Police on 06 2113644.