Police are describing a double fatal road crash in Foxton Beach as a “senseless waste of young lives”
Approximately 4.50 this morning (Sunday, 20 February) a Ford Telstar lost control on Foxton Beach Road and overturned. The vehicle, which is designed to hold five people, had seven occupants; at least one of them was ejected from the vehicle when it crashed.
A 15-year-old boy from Shannon, was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. He is believed to have been a rear seat passenger. A 20-year-old Foxton woman was also found dead inside the vehicle.
Three other occupants were seriously hurt and have been flown to Wellington Hospital where they are all in intensive care. This includes the 19-year-old male driver, and a 23-year-old man, both from the Foxton area. The third is a 19-year-old man from Shannon.
The two remaining occupants, a 16-year-old boy from Shannon and a 20-year-old woman from the Foxton area were discharged from Palmerston North Hospital after treatment for minor injuries.
Witness information suggests that the Ford Telstar was with another white vehicle shortly before the crash and Police are trying identify and locate the two men believed to be in that vehicle. It is not clear at this stage whether they were witnesses to the actual event.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. Speed does appear to be a factor, and clearly at least some of the occupants would not have been wearing seatbelts, but it is too early to say if alcohol was involved.
Detective Darcy Parke said: “This is the sort of horrific crash that New Zealand is experiencing far too often. It is such a senseless waste of young lives and will have huge impact on so many families. It’s too early to know all the factors that caused this crash, but the mere fact that there were seven people travelling at speed in a vehicle designed for five, shows that there are still too many young people out there risking their own and others lives on our roads."
Police are still trying to formally identify all of the occupants of the vehicle and speak with next of kin, so the names of those who died are not expected to be released today.
Anyone with information about this crash is asked to contact Detective Darcy Parke at Levin Police Station on 06 366 0500. Alternatively information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 027 234 8256.