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Police have named the man and youth who lost their lives in a South Island car crash early this morning, and say a second child who survived the crash is "not out of the woods yet".
Anthony David Calder, 45, and Matthew David Beaumont, 14, both from Clydevale, died when the ute they were travelling in hit a bridge near Greenfield, northwest of Balclutha in Otago.
Both died at the scene about midnight.
Balclutha Police acting Sergeant Murray Hewitson said a second boy was taken to Dunedin hospital in critical condition.
"He received substantial injuries to the pelvic region, and he's been in the operating theatre. He's currently stable but not out of the woods yet."
Mr Hewitson said a serious crash team was still working at the scene, but police believed alcohol was a factor in the accident.
Several hours later a Wellington crash claimed the life of a 21-year-old man.
The man was killed instantly when the car he was a passenger in crashed into roadside fence on Raroa Crescent in Northland about 4am.
Detective Sergeant John van den Heuvel of Wellington CIB said two female passengers aged 15 and 17 were taken to Wellington Hospital with moderate injuries. The 19-year-old driver and a front seat passenger suffered only minor injuries.
Mr van der Heuvel said no other vehicles were involved and alcohol did not appear to have been a factor.
The man's name was to be released after next of kin were notified.
The three deaths last night brings the weekend road toll to four, after an 18-year old woman was killed in an accident in Christchurch on Friday.
Talia Loren Burt died at the scene when the car she was a back seat passenger in crashed on Lower Styx Road about 6.30pm.
- NZPA
