A fatal road crash near Stokes Valley last Thursday night has now claimed the life of a second victim.
The car's driver, Kyle John Gregor, aged 22, of Stokes Valley was killed in the crash which happened shortly after 7pm on Thursday night, on the Eastern Hutt Road, just north of the Stokes Valley roundabout.
Sergeant Bruce Farley, Lower Hutt Police strategic traffic unit, said front seat passenger Brendon-Lee Roy Mehlhopt, 20, of Masterton, died in Wellington Hospital's intensive care unit on Friday night from head injuries received in the crash.
An 18-year-old youth who was also in the Subaru WRX received hospital treatment for cuts and other minor injuries.
"This crash is just a terrible waste of young lives," Sergeant Farley said. "Witnesses and our investigations suggest that speed, coupled with a high performance car, was an issue."
"The car under-passed one vehicle then lost control, fish-tailed several times and slid off the road, through a fence and into a power pole.
"It's hard for the victims' families and friends, but this was a very preventable crash."
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