Wedding guest dies on road after hit and run

Police are appealing for witnesses after a wedding guest was hit by a car and left near death on Marychurch Rd in Matangi, south of Hamilton. Photo / Christine Cornege

A wedding guest was mowed down by a car in what is believed to be a hit-and-run incident only 150m from where the marriage celebrations were held.

The victim, understood to be in his mid-20s and from Hawkes Bay, was found by a passing motorist in a critical state lying near a gate on Marychurch Rd in Matangi, south of Hamilton, just before 5am yesterday.

St John spokesman Nigel Dawson said the man had multiple injuries and died soon after St John paramedics arrived at the scene.

He had multiple injuries including head and internal injuries and was "only just breathing".

Mr Dawson said the man had "lots of external injuries" and "he had definitely been hit".

The Herald understands the man attended a wedding at the nearby home of Tina and Richard Cameron and was wearing a suit.

The Cameron household declined to comment yesterday but confirmed the dead man was known to the family.

A sign directing guests to the wedding was replaced yesterday afternoon with a spray-painted sign saying "Private, No Trespassing".

Yesterday morning Marychurch Rd was blocked off from the Tauwhare Rd intersection, leaving residents unable to come and go from their properties as police examined the scene.

Detective Senior Sergeant Karl Thornton urged any motorists who travelled on Marychurch Rd, also known as State Highway 1B, between Taupiri and Cambridge between 4.30am and 5am on Sunday morning to come forward if they had any information about the incident.

Police spent yesterday morning interviewing wedding guests to try to piece together the events of the night before.

One guest told the Herald he had been interviewed but didn't know anything.

Two weddings were held on Saturday night at private homes only 100m metres from each other on Marychurch Rd.

The hit-and-run victim was found near the entrance of the property opposite the Bellevue Rd intersection of where the second wedding was held.

The home owner knew nothing about the crash until they spoke to police yesterday morning.

Wedding guests, including the bride and groom, were unable to return to one of the homes because the road was closed as police examined the scene.

One wedding guest, Dave Rangi from Wellington, eventually gave up and began his journey south around 10.30am.

Matangi residents were also getting frustrated yesterday as the remainder of the cordon was not lifted until 1.30pm and they were unable to get in or out of the area for up to seven hours.

Neighbours said they did not know of the incident until they saw the cordon and did not know the occupants of the house.

Marychurch Rd is a popular route for motorists travelling between Taupiri and Cambridge.