KEY POINTS:
Five people have died on New Zealand roads so far this weekend.
North Canterbury police are at the scene of a fatal crash on State Highway 7 at Mouse Point, 8km south-west of Rotherham.
A police southern communications centre spokesman said the crash this afternoon, believed to involve a truck and a car, left one person dead.
A fatal crash on State Highway 2 on the Rimutaka Hill between Wellington and the Wairarapa has caused extensive traffic delays.
A woman was killed about midday when the car she was in was crushed under a truck which rolled on a corner on the Wairarapa side of the hill.
The woman died at the scene and a man was flown to hospital by the Westpac rescue helicopter with serious injuries.
The road was closed as a heavy crane was needed to get the truck back upright so it could be removed. Police would then complete a scene examination so the road was expected to stay closed until around 8pm.
There were heavy traffic volumes in the region today with the Wings Over Wairarapa airshow being held at Masterton's Hood Aerodrome.
In other fatal crashes, a 15-year-old Alexandra boy died last night after the car he was driving collided head on with another car, north of Roxburgh in Central Otago about 7.10pm.
Senior Constable Andy Reed of Roxburgh police said Dane Robert Marshall lost control of the car he was driving when trying to move back into the correct lane after crossing the centre line.
He was the sole occupant of the car.
Both he and the driver of the other car had to be cut from their vehicles by the Fire Service.
He was flown to Dunedin Hospital but died from his injuries.
Early yesterday morning Scott Allen Sutherland, 33, of Whakamaru Village, Mangakino died after he was thrown from his car and run over by a truck.
Sergeant David Frazer of Taupo police said the accident happened on State Highway 32, 5 kilometres south of Whakamaru Village.
Mr Frazer said Mr Sutherland was in a Mitsubishi Galant which left the road and rolled several times on the grass verge.
Mr Sutherland was thrown into the centre of the road where he was hit by a truck and semi-trailer. The truck driver took evasive action but was unable to avoid Mr Sutherland lying in the middle of the road, Mr Frazer said.
A male passenger in Mr Sutherland's car had to be cut from the wreckage and was seriously injured.
The truck driver was not injured.
Police believe alcohol and speed were contributing factors and investigations were continuing.
One person was also killed last night in a crash at Waitara in Taranaki, New Plymouth police said.
- NZPA
