The incident happened on State Highway 5 at Golden Springs. Photo/Ben Fraser
The incident happened on State Highway 5 at Golden Springs. Photo/Ben Fraser
The death of a Taupo man near Reporoa has meant three people have been killed on Rotorua roads in less than a week.
The latest tragedy has resulted in local police renewing their calls for drivers to take extra care.
A 21-year-old Taupo man died following a three-vehicle crash near Reporoa last night.His name was yet to be released.
A man has died following a three-vehicle crash near Golden Springs. Photo/ Ben Fraser
Police said in a statement that four others received minor injuries in the crash, which happened on State Highway 5, about 1km north of the Golden Springs settlement, between Rotorua and Taupo.
Police were called to the scene just after 9.20pm.
A man has died following a three-vehicle crash near Golden Springs. Photo/Ben Fraser
The road was closed and diversions were put in place while the Serious Crash Unit investigated the scene.
Two people died on Monday last week in separate crashes on State Highway 5 north of Rotorua.
Hori Kaiwai, a 67-year-old former Rotorua Boys' High School teacher, was killed when his car collided with a campervan near Maraeroa Rd on Monday morning.
Lynda Anne Bailey, 56, from Auckland, died after her car crashed on the same stretch of road near Ngatira later in the day.
The crashes mean three people have died in the Rotorua region in six days.
Bay of Plenty District road policing manager Inspector Brent Crowe said all three crashes were "totally avoidable" and resulted in "needless death, trauma and suffering".
Crowe said although all three were head-on crashes on State Highways the reasons behind each appeared different and were all subject to ongoing Serious Crash Unit Investigations.
Crowe said the basics of driving at a safe speed appropriate to the conditions, driving free from the influence of alcohol and drugs, not driving if tired and always wearing a seat belt were vitally important messages that should be front of mind for all drivers
"The sudden loss of a loved one through a vehicle crash is an extremely traumatic and life altering experience that no one should ever have to endure," he said.
