KEY POINTS:
At least three Waikato families were grieving on Christmas Day after their loved ones died in separate car accidents within hours of one another.
Two crashes that left two people dead happened during the official holiday road toll period, which began at 4pm on Christmas Eve.
A passing motorist called emergency services when he heard moaning from a ditch on Tainui Rd, 15km north of Morrinsville. Northern communications centre spokesman Keith Hall said two people had crashed just after midnight yesterday. One was pronounced dead at the scene and the other was taken to Waikato Hospital with serious injuries.
And about 8pm on Christmas Eve, a female driver died after her car ended up in a ditch on Gun Club Rd in Pukekohe.
On Wednesday morning, a motorist lost control, crossed the centre line and crashed into a concrete pillar on the State Highway 32 bridge that crosses the Waikato River near Whakamaru. The driver died at the scene and a front-seat male passenger suffered chest and pelvis injuries, two broken legs and lacerations to his face. He had to be cut from the vehicle by firefighters.
He was treated at the scene by St John paramedics before being flown by the Taupo-based Youthtown Trust Rescue Helicopter to Waikato Hospital where he is in intensive care. The third passenger suffered minor injuries and was treated at Tokoroa Hospital.
And a 16-year-old boy was last night recovering in Palmerston North Hospital after he lost control of his car, crossed the centre line, crashed into trees and ended up in a ditch north of Eketahuna yesterday. The teenager was treated at the scene by St John advanced paramedics before being flown to hospital by the Square Trust Rescue Helicopter.
Meanwhile, police are investigating two separate alleged hit-and-run incidents on Christmas Eve in the Flaxmere area of Hastings.
A 30-year-old man in a wheelchair was hit by a car as he tried to cross Hudson St. Sergeant Clint Adamson said he was thrown on to a lawn. He was taken to hospital for observation. The driver initially stopped, but then got back into his blue Nissan Cefiro car, registration ECK781.
And a car carrying seven people and travelling along Omahu Rd was hit by another car pulling out of Twyford Rd. The family's car crashed onto its side, leaving a child with a leg injury and other occupants with suspected leg, back and neck injuries. The car that hit them and failed to stop was described as a dark blue 1999 Honda Accord with the registration number XR3366.
The official Christmas-New Year holiday road toll period started at 4pm on Wednesday and runs until 6am on January 5. Last year's toll was 18 dead and 65 seriously injured from 16 crashes.
- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NZPA
