Lions fans' serious crash prompts police warning to tourists

Police are urging tourists in New Zealand to get good rest before they begin driving around the country after a serious crash involving newly-arrived Lions fans in Waikato last night.

Police were called to a crash at 7.40pm on State Highway 1, 10km south of Cambridge, involving a car and a campervan.

Police say the campervan appeared to have crossed the centre line and collided almost head-on with the northbound car. The 18-year-old female driver of the car is in a critical condition in Waikato Hospital.

The campervan was carrying three male Lions supporters who were travelling to Wellington. One is in Waikato Hospital with leg injuries and the driver and another passenger suffered minor injuries.

Waikato road policing manager Inspector Leo Tooman said preliminary investigations point to fatigue being a major factor in the crash.

Police believe the tourists arrived at Auckland International Airport yesterday evening after a long-haul flight from Britain and went straight to the campervan depot in Auckland. They then began their journey to Christchurch for tomorrow's rugby test.

Mr Tooman said driving long-distance immediately after a long-haul plane flight was a recipe for disaster.

"We have all the elements here of a tragedy waiting to happen. The tourists literally stepped off a plane into the campervan and began driving. The driver would have been extremely tired after such a long flight," he said.

"He was driving at night, in a foreign country. He would not have known the roads. We would urge any tourist arriving in this country not to drive as soon as they hop off a plane. Get some sleep or at least wait a sufficient amount of time before embarking on any long-distance journey," Mr Tooman said.

Alcohol was not a factor in the crash. The driver passed a breath test at the scene. Police were speaking to the occupants of the campervan today. No charges have yet been laid.

- NZPA