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Police have named the three men who died in two separate accidents in South Taranaki early today.
British national Gary Stuart Smith, 30, was killed when his Subaru stationwagon failed to take a bend, hit a fence and crashed into a tree about 12.30am near Rahotu, 16km northwest of Opunake.
Mr Smith was living in Rahotu and working in the area, police spokeswoman Kim Perks said.
He was the only person in the car and no other vehicles were involved, she said.
Two hours later, and just 15km from the first crash site, a second Subaru stationwagon left South Road as it approached a bridge crashing into a stream.
Wayne Roy Peters, aged 33, and Benjamin Taylor, aged 25, both from Pungarehu, 23km north west of Opunake, both died in the crash.
Police were still finding out who was driving the vehicle.
Inspector Frank Grant of Hawera police said speed could have been a factor, but police were investigating.
- NZPA
