A car rocketed through a barrier like a "scud missile", plunging 30m into the Manawatu Gorge yesterday, killing the driver.

The Rotorua Girls' High School ball went ahead without Kristi-Rae Ruri-Gardiner, who died in a car accident a month ago.

A police dive squad has recovered the body of a man from the Manawatu River following a crash earlier this morning.

Crew of the Amaltal Atlantis rubbed warmth into the bodies of the rescued fisherman and gave up their clothing to keep them warm.

Heavy security surrounded the arrival of survivors from the sinking of the Oyang 70, with three crew taken to hospital. Photo / Simon Baker

Several carriages of a passenger train fell into water after floods knocked out a bridge in China.

Families who lost loved ones in NZ's worst air crash nearly 31 years ago have been asked to register for a ballot for 80 seats on a RNZAF commemorative flight to Antarctica.

One lane of the southern link onto the Southern Motorway from the port has been closed after a truck struck an overhead gantry at 3pm today.

A lone bee has been blamed for a truck crash that cut power to more than 1700 homes and put the driver in hospital.

An NZ motorcyclist died instantly when he lost control and crashed at speed during a race on the Isle of Man, a British inquest has been told.

A woman who fled an alcohol checkpoint and caused a crash that killed Penelope Phillips, above, has been sentenced to home detention.