Four members of family killed in crash

Four members of one family were killed in a two-car smash in Lower Hutt just before midnight last night.

Police said the crash happened at the intersection of Wairere Road and Western Hutt Road (State Highway 2), which is controlled by a stop sign.

Sergeant Brent Murray said it appeared a Subaru Legacy pulled out of Wairere Road, and was hit by a north-bound Subaru Impreza.

All four occupants of the Legacy -- believed to be relatives -- were killed, while the sole occupant of the Impreza, a male in his late 20s, was taken to Hutt Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Three of the victims' have been identified, but their names are yet to be publicly released.

The victims were a man and woman in their 80s and a man and woman in their 50s.

Mr Murray said police did not know why the Legacy pulled out of the intersection into the path of the Impreza, and blood samples had been taken from the five victims to determine if alcohol was a factor.

The road was closed for around three hours.

Lower Hutt police were still investigating and would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the crash or who was travelling in the area at the time.

The weekend road toll rose to five this morning after a fatal accident near Wanganui.

- NZPA