One dead, two critical after Dannevirke crashes

File photo / NZ Herald

One person has died and another two are fighting for their lives after two serious crashes in Dannevirke this morning.

Emergency services were called out to the first crash around 1.40am.

Senior Sergeant Dylan Earle said a white Ford sedan was heading south through Dannevirke township when it lost control on a corner and crashed into a wall at the intersection of Stanley St (State Highway 2) and Gordon St.

Three Dannevirke residents were in the car. The 20-year-old female driver died at the scene, while two other occupants were taken by ambulance to Palmerston North Hospital.

Police said a 23-year-old man who had been travelling in the front of the car was in a stable condition and a 38-year-old man who had been in the back seat was in a critical condition.

"It is very early on in the investigation but speed appears an obvious factor at this stage, and police will also be conducting alcohol and vehicle tests," Mr Earle said.

No names will be released until all next of kin have been notified.

A diversion was in place around the scene for around three hours while the serious crash unit conducted a scene examination.

In the second incident, a vehicle travelling south on SH2 around 5km north of Dannevirke lost control on a corner and skidded off the road into a tree about 3am.

The sole occupant, a 25-year-old Dannevirke man, was cut from the vehicle by Dannevirke volunteer firefighters and then taken to Dannevirke aerodrome where he was airlifted to Palmerston North Hospital.

Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter pilot Clayton Girven said the man had sustained multiple injuries and was in a serious condition.

Mr Earle police had conducted a scene examination and it appeared speed may have been a factor in the crash but a full investigation would determine the cause.

- NZHERALD STAFF