Father-and-son's tragic road trip

The wrecked Subaru that claimed the life of Tom Morison. Photo / Supplied

A father-and-son road trip ended tragically yesterday when their campervan crashed and killed the 47-year-old man. His 10-year-old boy was treated in hospital and later discharged.

It was the second fatal accident on the same stretch of road in three days, leaving the north Wairarapa community reeling.

Police were called to yesterday's smash at 2.30am on State Highway 2, north of Masterton, when the driver hit a bank and was thrown on to the road. The Northland dad was dead when police arrived.

A boy travelling with him, believed to be his son, was taken to Masterton Hospital with minor injuries and later discharged.

"He's fine. He's okay and is now with family," said a hospital spokeswoman.

Just three days earlier, 19-year-old Tom Morison was killed on the highway near Eketahuna. The car's driver, Tyler Murphy, also 19, is fighting for his life in Wellington Hospital.

Morison's family were still reeling from Tom's death yesterday, and were "devastated" to learn of a second accident in the area in four days, said Janie Moore, partner of Tom's father Mark. "I thought, 'Oh my god, what's going on here? It's just terrible'," she said.

Since learning of Tom's death, they had "struggled to know what day it is".

Police were investigating alcohol and speed as possible causes of Wednesday's crash.

A nearby family were watching late-night television when they heard a huge bang and saw flames coming from a crashed car outside.

The two teens in the car were travelling south when the driver apparently lost control and slammed into a ditch and rolled.

Firemen had to use cutting tools to free the pair.

A funeral for Morison will be held at Te Ore Ore marae near Masterton on Tuesday.