Another confirmed dead in horror weekend on New Zealand roads

Two people who died in a crash near Kaeo in Northland (above) were among nine deaths on roads in a horror weekend for motorists. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Nine people have now died in a horror weekend on New Zealand roads after a woman who was struck by a car succumbed to her injuries in hospital.

An elderly Tauranga woman who was hit by a car in Tauranga's CBD on Friday died in Tauranga Hospital at the weekend, police have confirmed.

The incident happened on Devonport Rd between 1st and 2nd Aves just before midday.

That brought the road toll for the year up to 78, eight more than the same time last year.

On Sunday, a driver fleeing police near Nelson tried to overtake a truck about 5.40am but collided with an oncoming vehicle on State Highway 6, killing three people.

One of the victims was an innocent motorist in the oncoming car.

The deaths prompted some motoring groups and the Police Association to recommend that a review on police pursuits should consider the merits of banning pursuits outright.

On Saturday five people were killed in three separate crashes.

One person was killed about midnight on Saturday in Hikurangi, Northland, two people died about 2.20pm north of Kaeo in the Far North and two people were killed about 6.40am in a crash near Whakapapa, in the central North Island.