Elderly driver dies in collision

An elderly driver died after his car crossed the centre line and collided head-on with an oncoming vehicle north of Auckland yesterday afternoon.

The crash happened about 2.30pm on Whangaparaoa Rd, Stanmore Bay, a northern police communications spokesman said.

A male and a female in the oncoming vehicle were badly injured.

Three people in another vehicle, which was also involved in the crash, were also injured.

Police have named a 40-year-old woman killed in a car crash in Manawatu on Saturday night.

She was Linda Jane Manuel, from Rongotea. She lost control of her car, which hit a concrete bridge post on Awahuri Rd near Feilding shortly before 8pm, central police spokeswoman Kim Perks said.

She died at the scene.

The weekend death toll on New Zealand's roads rose to three when a motorcyclist died after crashing in the Palmerston North suburb of Milson about 3.45pm yesterday.

It appeared he lost control of his bike on a corner on Apollo Parade, fell off and hit a post, Ms Perks said.

No other vehicle or person was involved, she said.

He was believed to be a 32-year-old Palmerston North man whose next of kin remain to be told.

Police were investigating both crashes and wanted to hear from anyone with information, Ms Perks said.

Another man was killed about 5pm on Friday, near Otaki, shortly before the official weekend period began.

Frank van Kampen, 46, from Otaki, died after a car hit him from behind while he was cycling north towards Te Horo on State Highway 1 in the cycle lane.

A 70-year-old woman who was driving the car that struck him is facing drink-driving charges.

She would appear in court once the investigation was complete, Sergeant Noel Bigwood said.

Her licence had been immediately suspended.

- NZPA