Labour Weekend road fatalities at 4

The Labour Weekend road toll was four last night, after two accidents in the Waikato and one at Gore, in Southland.

A motorcyclist riding on State Highway 2 between Maramarua, 21km east of Pokeno, and nearby Mangatawhiri died after coming off his bike just after 6pm yesterday.

Inspector Bruce Bird, of the police northern communications centre, said last night few details were known about the accident.

"All we know is that he ran off the road," Mr Bird said.

It was not known if any other vehicle was involved, but rain in the area could have been a factor.

Two men died on Saturday at 5.45pm when their cars collided on State Highway 1 at Ohinewai, 8km north of Huntly, said Sergeant Mark Toomey.

The cause of the crash, in the northbound lane, was being investigated, but neither speed nor alcohol appeared to have been factors.

The victims were a 58-year-old man from Matamata and a 66-year-old man from Howick.

A woman with moderate injuries was flown to Middlemore Hospital. Her condition last night was considered stable.

The three people have not been named.

Yesterday, a 57-year-old man died after a car crash in Gore.

Inspector Bob Palmer, of police southern communications, said the man and his wife, 56, were travelling on Leithen Rd when the van veered off the gravel road at low speed about 11am.

The van went into a ditch and came to rest against a deer fence.

It was possible the man had suffered some kind of health problem, Mr Palmer said.

The man's wife was not injured.

Six people died in road crashes during Labour Weekend last year, and seven died the previous year.

- NZPA

Further reading
Feature: Cutting the road toll

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