Death on the roads

Three people died on the roads during the weekend and a fourth was killed when his 4WD rolled in a paddock.

The driver of a Nissan Terrano was killed on State Highway 1 at 12.20pm yesterday when his vehicle crossed the centre line between Timaru and Temuka and hit a truck.

Sergeant Nevil Page of Timaru said the crash closed the north-bound lane for six hours. The truck driver was not injured.

On Friday night, a 14-year-old girl and a 23-year-old man died when the blue Subaru Impreza they were passengers in crashed into a concrete shed near Gisborne.

Senior Constable Viard Sheridan, of the Gisborne Serious Crash Unit, said it appeared the car had been overtaking when the driver lost control.

The strength of the impact knocked a concrete block of stairs from its steel holding rods and rendered the car almost unrecognisable.

Three survivors were taken to Gisborne Hospital with serious and moderate injuries. Mr Sheridan said speed might have been a factor and police were investigating whether alcohol was involved. It was not clear if the occupants had been wearing seatbelts.

A 35-year-old man died on Saturday when his 4WD overturned and landed on him at his Taranaki property.

Sergeant Kim Severinsen of Hawera said the man had been driving on his flat section at Normanby, 70km southeast of New Plymouth.

The man, who was not buckled in, fell out and was pinned beneath it.

His death will not count towards the road toll as it happened on private property.

- NZPA