Driver killed at Maramarua black spot

A 32-year-old man died yesterday after his car and a truck carrying 19 tonnes of sugar collided at Maramarua.

He was Mark Chirnside, of Katikati.

The driver of the truck and semi-trailer received minor injuries.

State Highway 2 was closed for 5 1/2 hours while emergency services investigated the crash and cleared the scene, Sergeant Blair Donaldson of Huntly police said. 

The crash occurred about 6.25am at a notorious spot near the Maramarua golf course where there have been a number of accidents.

Mr Donaldson said the police would like to speak to any witnesses.

 

Plans are under way to improve the road, which has a crash rate 40 per cent higher than the national average for highways of its type.

Transit New Zealand wants to build a 7.2km road to bypass nearby Mangatawhiri and is seeking a $43 million grant from the state funding agency Land Transport New Zealand.

It hopes to start construction by this time next year and finish by 2008.

Transit estimates that traffic volumes on the route - from 12,000 to 14,000 vehicles on most days and double that on holiday weekends - are increasing by 3 to 5 per cent a year.

Historian and author Michael King and his wife, Maria Jungowska, are among the 30 people who have been killed on the road in the past five years.

- NZPA