Police have released details of a horror smash in the Bay of Plenty which claimed the lives of two people, including a baby girl, over the Easter weekend.
Police are blaming speed and alcohol for the crash.
Six-month-old Kalaisha Matangireia Princess Hale, of Kawerau, died in Auckland's Starship Hospital on Sunday, while 23-year-old Frazer Douglas Nathan died at the scene of the three-car crash on Saturday.
The deaths were among 11 on the roads during the Easter holiday period -the highest toll in 17 years.
Crash investigator Constable Michael Chelley of Whakatane police said a Holden Commodore carrying three people was travelling at "considerable speed" on State Highway 34, north of Kawerau, when it collided with a car ahead of it at about 7.30pm.
The Holden became airborne as it crossed lanes, narrowly missing an oncoming car before colliding with a concrete power pole, which shattered with the force of the impact.
The car continued for another 35 metres before coming to rest on its roof and bursting into flames.
The other car was shunted off the road and rolled.
Occupants of both cars were seriously injured, and were pulled from the wreckage by members of the public.
Mr Nathan had been a passenger in the Holden, while baby Kalaisha had been properly restrained in a baby seat in the other car.
The oncoming car received minor damage from flying debris.
Speed and alcohol were believed to be factors, Mr Chelley said.
"At this stage we believe the Holden was attempting to overtake the other northbound car, at some considerable speed," he said.
"There are no words to describe the impact that this crash has had on everyone involved - the victims of the crash and their friends and families, the emergency services who attended the incident, and the members of the public who stopped to help."
Police were unable to confirm if anyone would face charges following the crash.
Easter 2010 holiday road toll (4pm Thursday - 6am Tuesday)
View Easter 2010 holiday road toll in a larger map
- NZPA
