Despite the best efforts of emergency services circumstances were conspiring to bring traffic to a standstill on roads in the Coromandel this afternoon with three crashes leaving several people injured and one dead.
In the first crash a motorcyclist lost his life when two motorbikes heading in opposite directions through a series of S-bends collided head-on on SH25, Whangapoa Rd between Coromandel and Matarangi about 12.55pm.
Acting Waikato Road Policing Manager, Senior Sergeant Jeff Penno said Serious Crash Unit investigators were working to establish the cause of the crash which also left the other motorcyclist suffering serious injury requiring him to be flown to Auckland Hospital by helicopter.
"Shortly after that emergency services were called to attend a three vehicle collision on the same highway, this time between Waihi and Whangamata, near Whiritoa which left one person seriously injured needing to be airlifted to Waikato Hospital and several others suffering minor injuries.
"Then emergency services were called to the scene of a crash on the Coroglen-Tapu Rd after a vehicle went over a bank. This coupled with heavy traffic volumes bringing the intersection of SH25 and SH26 at the Kopu Bridge and SH25 at Tairua meant travellers had very long waits."
Mr Penno said with perfect weather there was no excuse for the crashes and none were accidents, all could have been avoided if drivers stuck to basic safety rules such as watching their speed, keeping left, avoiding drinking and driving and wearing their seatbelts.
"What we're seeing is people becoming impatient and not driving to the conditions, if traffic flows at peak times are going to be greater than normal, and they are over the holiday period, then you need to plan your trip accordingly and consider leaving earlier to avoid any hassle."
This afternoon's motorcycle crash fatality was followed by another death about 4pm when the occupant of a Toyota car that collided with a van on SH1 at Horotiu yesterday died of his injuries in Waikato Hospital.
He was 20-year-old Sean KOE
Mr Penno said having two road fatalities when it was only the second day of the year was not only tragic, it was unacceptable given the avoidability of what happened.
"We need to accept the road is a dangerous place and driving requires a lot of skill.
"That's why Waikato Police will be maintaining a highly visible presence on our roads over the summer holidays and why we will be exercising a zero tolerance approach to anyone found driving 5km/h over posted speed limits, it's about getting everyone home alive."
End