Six dead after black Friday on roads

Police were today continuing to investigate a horrific three car smash near Milton early yesterday which claimed the life of local teenager Regan Devlin.


The 12.10am crash was the first of a number of fatalities on a black Friday on New Zealand's roads.


A double fatality in the Auckland suburb of Hillsborough, coupled with other single fatalities around the country brought the day's road toll to six.


Police have refused to speculate on the crash which killed Mr Devlin, 19, but people in and around Milton said they believed the cars were racing.


Four ambulances were called to the crash, which involved 12 teenagers who suffered injuries ranging from moderate to critical.


A local policeman said it was the worst road smash he had seen in his 16-year police career.


Two of the three cars were crumpled beyond recognition.


Police said the Hillsborough crash happened when a car carrying four people hit a wall at an intersection at about 11pm.


The car caught fire and emergency services had to free three people who were trapped in it.


One occupant was uninjured, but another was seriously hurt and taken to hospital. Police are still investigating the crash.


A 75-year-old American tourist was killed when clipped by a wing mirror as he cycled on State Highway 6 north of Wanaka earlier in the day.


The man was with a party of cyclists and was being overtaken by a bus carrying tourists, police said.


A decision is yet to be made on whether charges will be laid over the incident.


A 27-year-old man was killed late morning when a four-wheel-drive rolled several times and came to rest against a cattle trailer at Cheltenham, northeast of Feilding.


Police said no other vehicles appeared to be involved.


The man was one of four travelling in the vehicle, two of whom received serious injuries.


Later in the evening the driver of a vehicle travelling on State Highway 54 at Waituna West in Manawatu died when the vehicle crashed into a bridge and went over a 20m bank.


Police were expected to release the names of the crash victims later today.


- NZPA