Holiday road toll rises to two

The Queen's Birthday holiday weekend road toll stood at two this afternoon following the death of a man in Waitomo.

The man was the driver of a car which crashed near State Highway 3 at Waitomo about 6.55am on Saturday, a police national headquarters spokeswoman told NZPA.

The man's death was not confirmed until today. No further details were available.

His death follows that of a man who died near Hokitika on the West Coast early yesterday.

Samuel Thorpe, 20, of Hokitika was the only person in a car which is thought to have crashed between 5am and 8am on Hau Hau Rd, just outside the West Coast town.

Sergeant David Cross, of Hokitika police, said today investigations into the crash were still under way but early indications were that speed may have been a factor.

It was believed Mr Thorpe had not been wearing a seat belt.

Earlier, police said a passerby had come across the crash site about 8.25am. Police found the vehicle on its roof and the sole occupant already dead.

The official holiday period ends at 6am tomorrow. The road toll for the Queen's Birthday holiday period last year was three.

- NZPA