Crash victim's death hikes holiday road toll

File photo / Hawke's Bay Today

A 23-year-old Auckland man critically injured in a crash near Kerikeri on Monday has died in hospital.

The young father from Mangere was thought to have been heading home from a holiday with his partner and eight-month-old daughter when he suffered serious head injuries in a three-car crash on State Highway 10, just north of Bulls Gorge, on Monday morning.

He was cut from the wreckage by Kerikeri firefighters, resuscitated at the scene by a St John paramedic, then airlifted to Whangarei Hospital by rescue helicopter.

A hospital spokeswoman said he died late on Tuesday night.

His young daughter, who had also been in intensive care in Whangarei Hospital, has been discharged and has gone home with her mother.

The baby's mother received minor injuries and was treated at Bay of Islands Hospital in Kawakawa, as was a pregnant woman in one of the other vehicles.

Police said it appeared the man's station wagon had crossed the centre line and collided with two oncoming vehicles. The road surface, slippery after the first rain in months, was a factor in the crash.

Police had yet to release the man's name yesterday. His death has been referred to the coroner.

Anyone who witnessed the crash but has not yet spoken to police is urged to call Sergeant Ross Laurie at the Kerikeri station on (09) 407 9211.

Holiday road toll (4pm December 24th - 6am January 5th)