Beacons stolen at fatal-crash site

Two men have been charged with stealing a pair of police warning lights while officers investigated a fatal accident in Central Otago.

At 10.15pm on Saturday, a van and car collided on State Highway 8 in Ettrick, 13km southeast of Roxburgh, after one of the vehicles crossed on to the wrong side of the road, said Sergeant Ian Kerrisk of Alexandra police.

A passenger in the car, a man in his fifties, died at the scene.

Mr Kerrisk said the driver of the van, an overseas national working as a fruit picker in the Roxburgh area, had been processed for drink driving following the accident and was being held in custody to appear in Dunedin District Court today.

He faces a charge of driving while incapable, but police said further charges were likely to be laid.

Two Invercargill men, both in their 30s, will also appear in Invercargill District Court on Friday, after two strobe warning lights were stolen as police examined the scene of the accident overnight.

- NZPA