Two people are dead and two injured - one seriously - in a horror 24 hours on Eastern Bay roads.
Yesterday a woman died in a crash between a truck and a car on State Highway 30, near the Kawerau Rd turnoff, about 8.30am. The car had been heading towards Whakatane and it collided with a truck and trailer unit heading towards Rotorua. The woman, the sole occupant of the car, was thrown from the vehicle and police said that despite concerted first-aid efforts she died at the scene. Police have named her as Jacqueline Beryl Coleman, 51, of Whakatane.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Whakatane police on (07) 308 5255.
On Wednesday night a 36-year-old man died and a 33-year-old sustained moderate injuries after a car crashed into a power pole in Reid Rd, near Ruatoki, by Taneatua. The crash happened shortly after 6pm. Police said the driver failed to negotiate a moderate bend and the vehicle crossed the centre line and collided with a concrete power pole. The passenger had died as a result of injuries while the driver was taken to Whakatane Hospital with moderate injuries. The dead man has been identified as Te Maari Tamakaimoana Hohua of Flaxmere.