The crash happened on Canal Road, near Badham Road, shortly before 1am. Photo / Google Maps
One person has died in a crash between a car and a Fonterra milk tanker north of Timaru overnight.
Police rushed to the scene in Clandeboye, on Canal Rd, shortly before 1am.
One person had died at the scene.
Two others were taken to Timaru Hospital in an ambulance, one suffering critical injuries and another with moderate injuries.
A Fonterra spokesperson confirmed one of its tankers was involved in the crash.
"Our thoughts are with all the people involved," she said.
"He [the driver] will be supported by our team."
She said they could not comment further due to the pending police investigation.
The Police Serious Crash Unit and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Team were investigating.
The death follows a horror few weeks on our roads and a particularly grim Easter Weekend.
Six people died on New Zealand roads over Easter weekend, three times as many as last year.
So far this year 111 people have died on New Zealand roads.
In the 12 months to April 6, there had been 355 road deaths.
In a statement given to the Herald after the Easter Weekend, national manager for road policing Superintendent Steve Greally was urging motorists to use their common sense when on the road.
In particular he said, drivers needed to slow down and be patient.
"Don't use your phone and for god's sake don't drive drunk," he said.
"Inattention is one that catches a lot of people out too, whether it's your phone or just something on the side of the road."
As the year draws to a close, Waikato Herald is taking stock of 2024.