Inspector Craig McKay is urging drivers to show extra caution driving over the Easter weekend following a series of fatality and serious injury accidents.
“We want to ask every motorist on the roads this weekend to take extra care,” Inspector McKay says. “Please take your time, have plenty of breaks and drive to the conditions.”
In the latest incident three people have now died following a crash on State Highway 8 near Pukaki today, police have confirmed. Three others have serious injuries and a further two have moderate injuries.
Inspector McKay says “Crashes like this show how easy it is for things to go horribly wrong.”
The crash involved two vehicles and a motorcycle and happened between Hayman Road and Tekapo Canal Road about 1.30pm.
A large number of emergency services staff, including three rescue helicopters responded.
“Despite the best efforts of those first at the scene, three people were unable to be saved,” Inspector McKay said.
“Several of the injured were trapped in the wreckage and needed to be cut out.”
Police say one of the deceased was riding a motorcycle while two others who died were travelling together in one of the cars.
“We are in the early stages of the investigation to determine what caused this tragic event,” McKay says.
“The Serious Crash Unit is at the scene and their work will continue into the evening. A complex and lengthy investigation lies ahead of us.”
“Crashes of this nature are incredibly confronting, and we are arranging support for those members of the public who were first at the scene and tried their best to save lives,” McKay said.
Just 90 minutes after the fatal crash, there was a second three-vehicle crash a short distance away at the intersection of State Highway 8 and Tekapo-Twizel Road, police said.
