KEY POINTS:
Police today named a teenager killed following a police pursuit in Dargaville at the weekend as Dion Martin, 18, from Whangarei.
Police said Mr Martin's car was seen by an officer speeding through a stop sign in Dargaville about 10.35pm on Saturday.
He fled along State Highway 14 when the officer activated lights and a siren but crashed on a bend about 30 seconds later, ending up over a slight embankment.
Police said alcohol was a suspected factor in the crash, which is still being investigated.
Mr Martin's death was one of three reported during the Queen's Birthday holiday period which ended this morning.
Early on Sunday, 24-year-old Dennis Jordan Whatuira died when the 4WD he was in crashed about 10km south of Wairoa in northern Hawke's Bay.
Police said no other vehicle was involved in the crash, which occurred on a moderate bend.
Meanwhile, the body of a motorist was recovered from a car which was found in the Waioeka River near Whakatane yesterday.
The submerged vehicle was seen by a member of the public in the river around 5am yesterday.
Police were treating it as a fatal crash, although it has not yet been confirmed whether it happened during the holiday period.
Five people died on the roads during Queen's Birthday weekend last year and police say there were fewer reports of dangerous driving this year and appeared to be fewer cars on the roads - which may be because of the cost of fuel.
- NZPA
