Two die after Fonterra tanker and car collide

Photo / File

Two people were killed last night when a Fonterra milk tanker and car collided in Waikato.

The crash happened on State Highway 26 near the Tatua Dairy Co-operative Company between Tatuanui and Waitoa. The driver of the tanker survived the crash and was treated by medics at the scene. Two people in the other vehicle were killed.

It is understood they were trapped and had to be freed by the fire service. Police could not say if they were locals or tourists, or give details of their age or gender.

It is the second crash involving a Fonterra driver this month. On October 4 a driver was killed after he crashed his tanker into a culvert on nearby No 1 Rd.

The Waikato Serious Crash unit is investigating both incidents.

Diversions were in place last night as police examined and cleared the scene. No further information about the cause of the crash or the victims was available.

Police said their names would not be released until their next of kin had been informed.

"This is a bad start to the last weekend of the school holidays where traffic is expected to be heavy," a police spokesperson said.

Police are asking all drivers to exercise care, drive to the conditions and obey the road rules.

A 62-year-old woman died in a single-vehicle crash in Ohope yesterday. Emergency services were called to the crash on Pohutukawa Ave about 1.30pm.

It appeared a single vehicle had crossed the centre line and collided with a tree on the grass verge, police said. The 62-year-old driver died at the scene, but two passengers in the vehicle were uninjured.