Motorist dies in arms of his wife

Neil Eder. Photo / Supplied

An "incredible" volunteer died as his wife held him after a high-speed crash on the way to her niece's wedding.

Rural fire network manager and award-winning hockey coach Neil Eder was killed when his Toyota Prado 4WD collided head-on with a truck on State Highway 65, about 66km southwest of Murchison in the north-west of the South Island at 1pm on Friday.

The 56-year-old died at the scene after being cut from his vehicle.

He was one of three people to die on the roads in a 27-hour period.

Neil's wife Peg said she was driving another vehicle with her husband following alone as they travelled to Christchurch for the wedding. The teacher said she lost sight of her husband's car and turned round to see it had crashed.

She went back to find her husband. "I was with Neil talking to him for an hour before emergency services arrived. He was unconscious."

Neil was pronounced dead at the scene.

While Peg held him, she was overwhelmed by support from the public: "People were randomly stopping, they were incredible New Zealanders at their best. We have amazing Kiwi spirit."

Peg said Neil was passionate in everything he did. He held the volunteer coach of the year award for Nelson and was set to coach the city's under-15 girls' team this year. "He was an amazing guy, a leader in his field in all ways and an incredible father, husband, brother, son and brother-in-law," said Peg.

Colleague and friend of 26 years Tom Broderick said the Fire Service was shocked to lose "such a great guy".

Constable Mark Watson said the serious crash unit from Blenheim was investigating.

The truck driver, a 51-year-old from Nelson, was flown to Christchurch Hospital by Westpac Rescue Helicopter after being thrown from his vehicle. He was yesterday stable with moderate injuries.

Meanwhile, a man died after a truck and trailer unit rolled north of Waiouru in the central North Island late on Friday night. Police said the truck, which rolled on SH1, about halfway between Waiouru and Turangi, was "a mess".

The third death came when a car crashed into a power pole in Pollok, 60km south west of Papakura, Auckland, about 4pm yesterday. There was only one person in the vehicle at the time, police said.