Father wants to thank person who tried to save son

Scene of the fatal car crash near Allanton on Saturday morning. Photo / Gregor Richardson

A father wants to thank those who tried to save his son's life after a crash early on Saturday.

Richard Greeves said yesterday he wanted to thank those who tried to help his son, Madison Luke Ford-Greeves, 20, who died at the scene of the head-on collision in Centre Rd, near Allanton, at 12.40am on Saturday.

Police had revealed two people stopped to provide assistance at the crash scene.

"I'd like to say thanks to the people who stopped to try and help."

He also thanked the emergency services that attended, he said.

The funeral service was being planned for Friday, Mr Greeves said.

Friend Ricky Welsford said friends of Mr Ford-Greeves were "roughed up" by the death.

"He was a real good guy. I still can't get my head around it."

Mr Welsford, a Taieri Amateur Wrestling Club member, said he dedicated the title he won at the New Zealand national wrestling championships in Dunedin at the weekend to Mr Ford-Greeves, a former club member.

"He was a good wrestler and a well-rounded guy."

Mr Ford-Greeves had stopped wrestling at the club about three years ago.

If Mr Welsford had continued wrestling he could have been competing at the nationals and "dodged" the crash.

"If he was wrestling on the weekend, he wouldn't have been out driving."

Sergeant Ed Baker, of Dunedin, said a 25-year-old woman was in a critical but stable condition on Sunday.

Police had not spoken to the woman yesterday and were unaware if her condition had improved.

The vehicles, a white Mitsubishi saloon, and a red Holden saloon, were extensively damaged in the collision after one crossed the centre line, Sgt Baker said.