Fatal crash driver had learner licence only four months

File photo / Herald on Sunday

The 15-year-old driver of a vehicle involved in a collision with a truck in which two people were killed had her learner's licence for only four months, police say.

The truck driver, father-of-four Malcolm John Frew, and a passenger in a Toyota Rav4, 17-year-old Tukaha Trenton Panui, were dead when emergency services arrived at the scene on Otewa Rd, near Otorohanga, yesterday afternoon.

Sergeant Andy Connors, of Otorohanga police, said Mr Panui and three others were heading to Toa Bridge, a popular swimming spot for locals, when the 15-year-old appeared to have lost control and slammed into the truck.

"It's early to tell (what caused the crash) but I would say that speed was a factor and that inexperience of the driver was another massive factor," he said.

Mr Connors said the situation was "horrific" when he arrived at the scene about 2.20pm.

"We were instantly aware that there were two fatalities and one passenger from the Rav4 was captured in the back of the car, which was upside down on the side of the road."

Mr Panui's body was trapped next to her, he said.

"It's probably fair to say that she was frantic."

Two of the teenagers, aged 17 and 16, were taken by helicopter to Waikato Hospital with serious injuries: one had fractures to the skull, a shoulder, ribs and pelvis, and the other a broken back.

Their injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

The driver lost a chunk of an arm but was not in a serious condition, Mr Connors said.

She had had her learner driver's licence for only about four months and should not have been behind the wheel, he said.

Learner drivers were required to be accompanied by a supervisor - someone who has held a full licence for at least two years - who must be sitting in the front seat of the car and the car must display "L plates".

Yesterday, Waikato road policing manager Leo Tooman said the serious crash unit was investigating, but initial indications showed the crash was avoidable.

It had many similarities to another accident during Labour Weekend, in which a learner driver crashed his car, leaving two people dead, he said.

"(The Otorohanga) crash is a case where the driver was travelling way too fast for the environment and driving in contravention of her graduated driver's licence," Mr Tooman said yesterday.

"Tragically, if the drivers in both crashes had taken some simple, basic steps four people may still be alive today and four families may not have to be facing a summer without loved ones."

Police urged new drivers to heed the conditions of their graduated driver licences.

- NZPA