Five dead in Christmas road smashes

A three-car smash on the Desert Road killed a mother and son on Christmas Eve.

The accident happened 20km north of Waiouru about 2.40 pm, just over an hour before the start of the official holiday road toll period.

Three others have died within the holiday road toll period, which began at 4 pm on Christmas Eve.

Constable Pete Sykes, of Waiouru, said the crash happened between a north-bound car carrying a Cambodian family and a car towing a caravan.

A third car following the caravan slammed into it from behind.

A 44-year-old Cambodian woman and her 19-year-old son died at the scene, while the man driving the car, his wife and another man were flown to Palmerston North Hospital by Tranz Rail rescue helicopter, Constable Sykes said.

They were understood to have minor injuries.

The five Cambodians were related, resident in New Zealand and lived in Auckland.

Three people in the caravan-towing car, a 72-year-old man and his 65-year-old wife, from Mt Maunganui, and her 90-year-old father from Te Puke, were flown to Waikato Hospital with moderate to serious injuries.

Two men in the vehicle following the caravan were not injured.

The road was closed for two hours while emergency services cleared the scene.

Constable Sykes thought speed and road conditions were probably factors in the crash.

Tranz Rail rescue helicopter pilot-manager Guy Beange, who was in one of three helicopters that attended the accident, said: "The first crew on the scene, the St John Ambulance officer from Waiouru, did a marvellous job.

"She got there, she prioritised every patient ...

"If only people knew the grief they impose on so many different families with just one incident I am sure most people would take extra care. Don't exceed the speed limit and drive to the conditions - all those things that you hear time and time again."

Speed was also thought to be a factor in a single-vehicle crash in Christchurch at midnight on Christmas Eve that killed two people.

The car, carrying seven people, crashed into a power pole and trapped some of the occupants after the driver lost control on Bexley Rd, said Inspector Bob Palmer of the police Southern Communication Centre.

Two men aged in their 30s died, a third has serious injuries and the other four had minor injuries. All of those involved were thought to be from the same family.

Mr Palmer reiterated that "alcohol, cars and speed can be a fatal combination".

A 45-year-old motorcyclist was found dead on a back road by another motorist between Marton and Wanganui early yesterday.

Police were called to the scene about 3.50 am and found the Marton man next to his BMW motorcycle and sidecar at the intersection of Wanganui and Gower roads.

He was Terence Carr, a River City Cabs driver.

Sergeant Neil Forlong, of Wanganui, said it appeared he had veered off the road, but it was not known why. No other vehicles appeared to be involved.

Mr Carr, married with three children, left for Marton on his motorcycle after finishing his taxi shift in Wanganui.

"We are all in shock from this tragedy. Tee Cee was a big man with a big personality and a big heart," said Rhondda Anderson, who owns River City Cabs with her husband, Robert.

Mr Carr was a psychiatric nurse at Lake Alice Hospital before joining the company.

He was a member of the Ulysses motorcycle club and this month took part in its toy run for underprivileged children.

In the last Christmas period there were 20 deaths and more than 400 injuries.

The official holiday period ends at 6 am on January 3.

- NZPA