Holiday road toll at five 

A man killed after a car ran off the road near Opotiki last night brought the road toll for the holiday weekend to five.

Inspector Scott Webb, of police northern communications, had few details about the 5.45 pm accident just south of Te Kaha.

A 15-year-old male died about the same time on Christmas evening after the vehicle he was driving left the road, failed to take a corner and hit a building in Wanganui, police central communications said. Emergency services were alerted at 5.40pm to the crash on Taupo Quay.

About 7am on Saturday two people died and several others were injured after a head-on crash on State Highway 1 in Northland, about 5km south of Kawakawa. Police said the dead were an 86-year-old man who was driving a southbound car and a middle-aged woman who was a front-seat passenger in a northbound van.

Kevin Joseph Mr McAnally, 44, was killed on Friday night after he drove his car into a moving Tranz Scenic passenger train in North Canterbury and became trapped in the burning wreckage after it rolled down a bank.

Mr McAnally's 12-year-old son and his 10-year-old daughter managed to escape from the wreckage through a rear car door.

Mr McAnally's daughter, who was seated in the front passenger seat, suffered a broken arm, while her brother suffered bruising.

They ran to get help from staff on the train, but it was too late to save Mr McAnally. It is unclear whether he died from the impact of the crash or as a result of the car wreckage bursting into flames.

The children were admitted to Christchurch Hospital after the accident but were discharged on Christmas Eve.

Initial police investigations found Mr McAnally failed to give way or slow down enough at a level crossing controlled by stop signs at Sefton, about 25km north of Christchurch.

Constable Kelly Larsen, of Rangiora, visited the children yesterday and said they were holding up well with the support of family.

The children live with their mother and stepfather.

They had planned to spend some of yesterday with their father.

"They had obviously family dinners, lunches, etc planned that they haven't attended," Constable Larsen said. "But nonetheless they have had time with family and friends during the day.

"They have received some presents. Kids are kids. They still want their presents."

The driver of the train has been offered counselling.

* A man and woman spent 30 minutes floating in the water after their boat flipped in Calypso Bay at Motuihe Island yesterday afternoon.

The couple, who were wearing lifejackets, were rescued by a passing yacht and taken ashore.

They did not require any medical treatment.

The couple's upside-down runabout was found drifting about 200m offshore.

A Coast Guard spokesman said that the craft was anchored to prevent it from becoming a navigational hazard for other boaties.

- NZPA, staff reporter