Speed ‘major contributing factor’ to fatal Hastings crash

Police have named a Hastings teenager who was killed last night when his car hit a tree after skidding off the road and becoming airborne.

He was Johnathan Clifford Pryor, 18, a cook, of Hastings.

Senior Sergeant Mike O'Leary, of Hastings police, said speed appeared to be a major contributing factor to the crash on St Georges Rd North, Havelock North, about 11.27pm.

Mr Pryor was the sole occupant of the car.

"It was a gentle S-bend -- he hit a culvert on the other side of the road, became airborne and hit a tree," Mr O'Leary told NZPA.

Mr Pryor was killed instantly.

Initial scene examination and witness accounts indicated that speed was a major contributing factor to the crash, Mr O'Leary said.

He said the crash site was less than 2km from the scene of a horror smash in Hastings just over a month ago, in which four boys were killed and two seriously injured when a vehicle hit a tree while travelling at up to 120km/h in a 50km/h zone.

"Youth have got to wake up to the fact that these things happen to them," Mr O'Leary said.

"It's pretty simple: speed kills. Take your foot off the pedal and think of your family and your own life."

He said it was "very traumatic" for staff having to deal with the aftermath of crashes, particularly breaking the news to families.

- NZPA