KEY POINTS:
Police are blaming speed and not driving the conditions as factors in two fatal accidents in the Waikato region today.
Mitchell Paynter, 17, of Paeroa was killed when the car he was driving collided with a utility on State Highway 2 in the Waikino Gorge about 7.30am.
The road, which links the towns of Paeroa and Waihi, was closed for several hours as members of the Waikato Serious Crash Unit carried out preliminary investigations.
Initial indications showed speed was a factor in Mr Paynter losing control of his Waihi-bound car that crossed the centreline on a bend, into the path of the Paeroa-bound utility.
He died at the scene.
The accident closed SH2 for more than three hours.
With SH2 reopening about 11.15am Eastern Waikato emergency services had little time to regroup before they were called to attend another fatal crash, this time on the Morrinsville-Tahuna Rd, about 1pm.
A man, whose name has not yet been released, was driving a Mitsubishi Evo which crashed side-on into a tree in a farm paddock.
Waikato Road Policing Manager, Inspector Leo Tooman, said the two deaths were "avoidable".
"We've had a bit of rain in the region over the past few days and conditions are treacherous in some parts.
"What we are asking is that drivers drive to the conditions and as the saying goes, if they change reduce their speed.
"100km/h is a speed limit not a test or required speed to reach, if conditions dictate your speed should reduce then that's what you should do."
