Blenheim crash victim named

There was only one reported death on the roads over the weekend but several other motorists suffered critical injuries.

Jacob Martin Neal, 20, of Blenheim died after his trail bike and a car collided on State Highway 63 in the Wairau Valley, 37km southwest of Blenheim, about 7pm Friday.

The investigation into the accident was continuing, police said today.

A 16-year-old received critical head injuries when he and his father crashed their farm bikes in Taupo about 12.55am today.

Police said alcohol appeared to be a factor.

The Taupo farm hands had been riding the bikes north on Tram Rd when they hit a bank and crashed, Sergeant Dave Frazer said.

The father, 35, was thrown 15m after hitting a drain and going into the bank.

The teenager lost control of his bike after hitting the bank, sliding 35m into a gully.

A family member found them after they failed to return home.

The teenager was flown to Waikato Hospital with critical head injuries, while the father was flown to Rotorua Hospital with moderate injuries.

A 37-year-old woman was critically injured in a head-on collision on SH1 in the Manawatu, about 11.15am yesterday.

Two teenagers suffered critical injuries after being thrown from a car in a Waikato crash about 3.30am on Saturday, and, later that morning, three people received critical injuries in a six-car pile up in Wellington.

- NZPA