Four die in weekend vehicle crashes

A farm worker died in a crash at Mangatawhiri.Photo / Steven McNicholl

Nine-year-old boy among those to die in horror 36 hours.

It was a grim weekend for several families around the country, after four people - including a 9-year-old boy - died in vehicle-related accidents.

Scottish tourist Richard Webster Harbinson was yesterday named as the victim of a crash on Waimarama Rd, near Hastings, on Friday.

The 68-year-old, who was driving, crossed the centre line and clipped an oncoming vehicle - sending his car into a nearby tree.

His wife and his adult daughter - who they had been visiting - were also in the vehicle and suffered serious injuries. They were taken to Hawkes Bay Regional Hospital for treatment.

Glen Cantlon, 44, was named as the victim of an accident just south of Fairlie, in Canterbury, early on Saturday morning. Mr Cantlon died when he lost control of his car on an unsealed section of School Rd and crashed into a ditch.

Just after 2pm on Saturday, a motorcyclist died in Mangatawhiri, just south of Auckland. He collided with an oncoming vehicle on Bell Rd and died at the scene.

The 9-year-old boy died while go-karting at Ahipara, on Ninety Mile Beach, late on Saturday afternoon.

A local resident said: "We need more of a police presence on the beach, I think. They need to have stricter rules about vehicles on the beach."