Police are investigating the deaths of three men in two car crashes in South Taranaki that happened within two hours of each other early this morning.
The first crash happened around 12.30am on Kahui Road in the Rahotu area. A Subaru stationwagon being driven by a 30-year-old man crossed over the road, initially hitting a fence and then skidding sideways into a tree.
The man has been named as Gary Stuart Smith who is from the UK but was living in Rahotu and working locally. He was the sole occupant of the car and no other vehicles were involved.
Two hours later, and around 15 kilometres from the first crash site, a second Subaru stationwagon left South Road as it approached a bridge crashing into a stream.
Wayne Roy Peters, aged 33 from Pungarehu and Benjamin Taylor, aged 25, also from Pungarehu, were the two occupants of the vehicle who both died. Police are still to establish which of these men was driving.
The Serious Crash Investigation Unit is looking into the causes of the crashes and it is too early at this stage to say what those causes are.
Any witnesses to either of these crashes should contact Hawera Police on 06 278 0260.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 06 351 2546 or 027 234 8256.