Woman killed in Manawatu crash

A woman is dead and four others were pulled from their car by helicopter after the four-wheel drive they were in crashed on a remote Manawatu road and rolled 50 metres down a steep bank yesterday.

The crash happened about 2pm near the top of Hall Block Road, a narrow gravel access road to the Tararua 1 wind turbines near Woodville. Police believe the car was travelling downhill when the accident happened.

The woman died at the scene and the four other occupants were pulled from the car by The Square Trust Rescue Helicopter. One of the passengers was a teenager, the other occupants were aged 20 to 65. They were taken to Palmerston North Hospital by ambulance with minor injuries.

"It's definitely not the best road and it deserves a lot of respect," Senior Constable Peter Bridge, of the Central Districts Serious Crash Unit, said. "If you don't respect it, this is what happens."

Senior Sergeant Tony Johnston, of Pahiatua police, was this morning unsure of the dead woman's age, or how she was killed.

- nzpa