Christmas carnage: Four die on roads within hours

File photo.

One person was killed in a crash near Huntly this afternoon, in what was the fourth road death in the space of a couple of hours.

The crash happened on Rotowaro Rd, with the victim identified as a male aged in his 50s.

It occurred about the same time as two people were killed when a 4WD vehicle hit a power pole near Tikitiki on the remote East Cape.

Police said the crash happened on Rangitukia Rd, northeast of Tikitiki.
Four people were in the vehicle and the two survivors were left with injuries described as moderate to serious.

A helicopter was preparing to take one of the survivors to Gisborne Hospital.

Another person is also dead following a crash this afternoon on the expressway linking Hastings and Napier.

Police said the crash happened west of Napier and a section of the road was likely to remain closed until mid-afternoon while emergency services attended.

The official holiday road toll period is from 4pm today until 6am on January 5.

- NZPA