Six people have died in crashes across New Zealand in less than 24 hours, including a driver who fled from police in Invercargill early this morning.
Fatal Crash in Invercargill
Shortly before 3am, police signaled for a vehicle to stop on Kelvin Street in Invercargill. According to police, “the driver failed to stop, and the vehicle fled. It was not pursued.” The vehicle subsequently crashed at the intersection of Leet and Kelvin Streets, resulting in one fatality at the scene.
The road at the crash site remains closed even as the Serious Crash Unit examines the scene. Police have requested that anyone who witnessed the crash, or has CCTV footage from Wellesley Ave, Avenal St, or Kelvin St, come forward.
Multiple Fatalities Across the Country
The Invercargill crash is one of several fatal incidents reported across New Zealand. A person died following a single-vehicle crash on Howden Rd near Hamilton around 8:40pm last night. Another fatality occurred in Southland overnight on Winding Creek Rd, where one person sustained moderate injuries and was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital.
Further north, a person died at the scene of a two-vehicle crash on Auckland’s South-Western Motorway around 6:15am. Two others sustained moderate injuries in that collision. Later today, a fourth person died in a single-vehicle crash on SH43/Forgotten World Highway, and a fifth person was killed in a single-vehicle crash in Whakatāne.
Emergency services responded to multiple scenes, including deploying helicopters and multiple ambulances. Several roads remain closed as the Serious Crash Unit investigates the circumstances surrounding each incident.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Invercargill?
Police signaled for a vehicle to stop on Kelvin Street in Invercargill shortly before 3am. The driver fled, and the vehicle crashed at the intersection of Leet and Kelvin Streets, resulting in one death.
How many people have died in crashes today?
Six people have died in crashes across New Zealand in less than 24 hours, including one in Invercargill, one near Hamilton, one in Southland, one in Auckland, one on SH43/Forgotten World Highway, and one in Whakatāne.
Are the roads open?
The roads at the crash sites in Invercargill, Southland, and on SH43/Forgotten World Highway remain closed while investigations continue. A section of Auckland’s South-Western Motorway has since reopened.
As investigations continue into these tragic events, what steps can drivers capture to ensure their own safety and the safety of others on New Zealand roads?
Worth a look