29 Nov 2024

Tīrau fatal crash: Police seek people who may have witnessed dangerous driving

12:36 pm on 29 November 2024
One person is dead and 14 others are injured after a small bus loaded with international tourists collided with two vehicles on a straight stretch of State Highway 1.

The scene of the crash on Wednesday. Photo: Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust

Police investigating a three-vehicle crash that left one person dead and 14 in hospital are appealing for witnesses.

Emergency services were called to the horrific scene at Piarere on State Highway 1 at 2pm on Wednesday after a bus load of foreign tourists and two other vehicles collided on a northbound passing lane.

The DNZ Travel bus was carrying 11 tourists and a driver.

Police said three other people were spread across two other vehicles, a black Mazda ute and a silver Mazda liftback car.

On Friday, police issued a statement, saying they wanted to hear from anyone who was travelling along the highway between Hamilton and Tīrau from 1pm to 2pm on the day of the crash.

They wanted to hear from people who may have dashcam footage or "witnessed incidents of dangerous driving".

Police said they could only confirm that a vehicle had crossed the centreline, crashing into other vehicles.

"All other details about the circumstances of the crash remain under investigation.

"Anyone with information or dashcam footage can contact police on 105 online quoting file number 241128/6729."

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