Police blame speed, booze for crashes

Police are concerned after a series of car crashes over the weekend, one of which resulted in a vehicle catching fire, and say it was fortunate injuries were not worse.

Senior Sergeant Warwick Burr said three crashes took place on Friday night and into the early hours of Saturday morning.

"It's been bad weekend on our roads, where particularly on Friday, we had three serious crashes where we were very lucky that there wasn't more serious injuries.

"It seems that the factors that caused these accidents include speed and alcohol and in probably at least two of these both factors. We make no secret of the fact that road policing is one of our priorities and we will continue to target drivers that are driving at speed and driving with alcohol in their systems," he said.

The first crash was in Coradine St, on Friday, just after 6pm.

The driver of the car lost control and hit a power pole. He fled from the scene and police were unable to locate him.

Houses in the immediate area lost power but the pole was still standing.

The driver contacted police the following day and police are continuing inquiries into the cause of the accident.

Police were called out to a crash just after midnight in Carterton on Saturday.

Mr Burr said the the car had caught on fire while heading west on Gladstone Rd.

"[The driver] lost control on a straight road, slid sideways before hitting a fence and then a strainer post. The floor crunched in on the accelerator which jammed it on to full revs and caused the engine to blow and then the whole car caught fire.

"It was very fortunate that there wasn't more serious injury or even death," he said.

The driver was taken to hospital and police are unsure what his injuries were.

Mr Burr said police suspect alcohol was a factor and are investigating.

About five hours later, police were called to another crash in Carterton, on High St.

An 18-year-old male driver hit a power pole, causing the pole to snap in half.

"Both speed an alcohol were factors and charges are likely to result," Mr Burr said.