Grieving mum's advice

The mother of a teenager killed in a double fatality crash in Hawkes Bay on Saturday has urged awareness about drink-driving dangers.

Max Harman, aged 19, and Robert Waikari, 17, both of Hastings, died when the Ford Econovan they were travelling in crossed the centre line and ploughed into an oncoming car on a bridge on State Highway 50, on the outskirts of Napier, about 2am.

They were thrown out of the vehicle over the bridge railings, landing in the Tutaekuri River 15m below.

The van's driver, 16-year-old Tamoko Christy, had been drinking, police said.

Mr Waikari's mother, Carole Johnstone, told One News last night she was not angry about the driver, saying it was her son's choice to get in the van.

"No one's perfect and I'm not going to pass judgment on anyone."

However, Ms Johnstone said lessons were to be learned from the tragic event. "Make sure your bloody driver's sober," she said.

Another young woman was also flung over the bridge in the accident, but managed to walk out of the river despite serious injuries.

One occupant of the van, Ben Morrison, 19, was airlifted to Wellington Hospital where he remained in a critical condition yesterday.

Four other teens - two 17-year-old females and two males, aged 17 and 18, - were in stable conditions in Hastings Hospital. They included the car driver 18-year-old Simon Taunt and his girlfriend, Melody Dane.

Police said the accident was a "lethal combination" of youth, alcohol and driving. They said a decision on what charges the driver would face would not be made for some time.

In other weekend accidents, one man was killed and two people injured in a two-car crash near Christchurch yesterday morning.

Shortly before midday yesterday a pedestrian was fatally struck by a truck in Rotorua's Hillcrest area.

- NZPA