Death toll headed for 25-year low

There were hopes for one of the lowest Queen's Birthday weekend road tolls in 25 years last night, despite drivers having to contend with road closures and treacherous ice and snow.

By late last night, two people had died, equalling the toll for the same period in 1995 and the lowest since 1980, according to Land Transport Safety Authority records.

Authority spokesman Andy Knackstedt said the low toll was pleasing, especially after several multiple-fatality crashes in the two weeks leading up to the weekend.
"It may be to do with the fact that the weather has not been so good over the weekend so it has discouraged people from driving in the first place. But obviously those who were driving have been adjusting their driving to the conditions.

"But the holiday period does not end until Tuesday morning, and there is a lot of driving to be done yet."

Yesterday afternoon, police confirmed the death of a man in Waikato. He was driving a car that crashed near State Highway 3 at Waitomo just before 7am on Saturday.

His death followed that of Samuel Thorpe, 20, of Hokitika who was found dead in his car on Saturday.

The car was believed to have rolled between 5am and 8am just outside the West Coast town. Sergeant David Cross, of Hokitika, said early indications were that speed may have been a factor.

It was believed Mr Thorpe had not been wearing a seat belt.

The Desert Road and other North Island central plateau state highways were closed from 7pm on Friday until 12.30pm on Saturday because of snow and ice, and about 20 cars and three trucks had to be pulled out after being trapped.

At 5.30am yesterday, patches of ice again forced the closure of the Desert Road between Turangi and Waiouru until 8am. More snow is expected on the Desert Rd until late tomorrow, says MetService

In the South Island, the Otago Regional Council was monitoring five South Otago rivers swollen by melted snow and MetService was warning of showers with hail, and snow lowering to 200m today in Otago, Southland and Fiordland.

Another short-lived cold snap is expected to reach Southland early this afternoon before moving on to the southern half of the North Island early tomorrow, leaving snow on key South Island passes and elevated roads in the central North Island.

In its wake, an anticyclone will bring more settled weather, with the risk of frosts during the nights leading into next weekend.