Tourists die in SH1 head-on crash

Two Spanish tourists were killed when their campervan collided head-on with a truck yesterday.

The man and woman, both aged 34, were heading north on State Highway One, between Kawakawa and Whangarei, when they crashed about 10.40am.

A third vehicle behind also became involved and a woman and child received moderate injuries and were taken to Whangarei Hospital. The truck driver, who was heading south, was not hurt. Police will not release the victims' names until their family in Spain had been notified.

The relationship between the pair was not known.

The highway was closed to southbound traffic and northbound motorists were being diverted.

Area Commander Inspector Chris Scahill told Stuff.co.nz that it was a tragic start to the holiday season. "The road toll [in Northland] now stands at 34 for the year and with just under two weeks left to the end of the year police are urging people to take care. We don't want to lose any more lives."

December has seen several fatal crashes in Northland. Kaikohe woman Linda Puata died when the car she was in rolled into a ditch on SH1, south of Whangarei, on December 1.

The same day, Kerwin Bonham, from Dargaville, was killed when his car hit a bank on SH12 at Ruawai, and Shelley Chisholm died from crash injuries in Kerikeri.