20 Feb 2022

Two dead after crashes in in Ōamaru and Manawatū

7:36 am on 20 February 2022

A crash in Ōamaru killed one person, when a car hit a fence on the Thames Highway around 10.15pm.

Close up of a St John ambulance on a residential street.

Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

The driver was seriously injured and a passenger died at the scene.

Investigators closed the stretch of highway but it has since reopened.

A person also died at the scene of a crash in Rongotea in Manawatū.

Emergency services were called to Penny Road about 7pm yesterday. The Serious Crash Unit is investigating.

Meanwhile in Wellington, emergency services are responding to a serious crash on Happy Valley Road in Ōwhiro Bay after a vehicle broke through a barrier and rolled over into the creek.

The single-vehicle crash happened at about 6.30am and the vehicle's occupants were initially trapped but have now been removed.

At least one person is seriously injured and motorists are advised to avoid the area.