Two die in weekend road crashes

Alcohol is thought to be a factor in two fatal smashes on the weekend roads in which two men died.

Police have named a Coromandel man, who was killed when his light truck rolled on State Highway 25, about 3km south of the township, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

He was Matthew Joseph Allen, 34, a local resident.

Senior Constable John Morrissey of the Coromandel police said it was believed alcohol was a factor in the smash, but investigations were continuing.

"He was found straight away because a vehicle following him saw the crash," Mr Morrissey said.

Another man was killed on Friday night when a car smashed into a tree near Taupo.

The dead man, a local resident, was a front seat passenger and one of four men in the car, which was travelling toward Taupo along Broadlands Road about 11.45pm.

Taupo Constable Mark Bond said the car left the road on a moderate bend, slid for 100 metres and slammed sideways into a pine tree.

"The force of this impact has caused the vehicle to become wrapped around the tree trapping the driver and the front seat passenger."

The front seat passenger, a 37-year-old Taupo man, died as a result of his injuries.

The driver, a 42-year-old man, also from Taupo, was flown to Waikato hospital by the Lion Foundation rescue helicopter after being cut from the vehicle.

The two rear seat passengers suffered minor injuries.

"Both alcohol and speed are factors in the crash," Mr Bond said.

Police were continuing their inquiries.

Today, two people also suffered serious injuries in a collision at Te Hana, north of Wellsford, on State Highway 1, just after midday.

Inspector Andrew Brill of the Police Northern Communications Centre said emergency services and the rescue helicopter were at the scene.

Two people were reported trapped -- one in each vehicle. Traffic was being diverted.

- NZPA