Woman killed in minibus crash

One death on the country's roads this weekend took the road toll to 318 for the year so far, compared to 337 at the same time last year.

Police said Joy Amanda Keef, 36, from Napier, died when a minibus carrying 11 intellectually handicapped children rolled down a bank near Patoka, 45km from Napier on Saturday afternoon.

Ten passengers received minor injuries.

So far this month, 10 people have died in road crashes, the same number as at the same time in October 2004.

Meanwhile, near Levin, two 17-year-olds were uninjured "because they had both been wearing their seatbelts" when the car they were in slammed into a streetlight pole, Levin police said.

The male driver had lost control after overtaking on Kuku Beach Rd about 8pm on Saturday. His female passenger had been in the front seat.

The vehicle was extensively damaged when it crashed into the steel pole, at the intersection of State Highway 1, knocking it into a 45 degree position over live power lines.

- NZPA