A picture is said to tell a thousand words and in this case the story they tell is if you just takes a couple of seconds to make it click you could save your own life.
Waikato Road Policing Manager, Inspector Leo Tooman, said a young man and woman are currently lying in a critical condition in Waikato's Hospital's Intensive Care Unit following a crash about 3.30am outside Kihikihi.
"It appears excessive speed was a significant factor in the crash which happened on a bend on Hairini Rd.
"As the driver of the white Subaru WRX lost control two people were ejected from the rear seat of the car as it rolled, such was the speed involved one of the injured was thrown over 30m."
The car which had been carrying five people ended up coming to a rest in a ditch.
Mr Tooman said the critical injuries suffered by the 16-year-old Otorohanga girl and the 18-year-old Raglan man were avoidable tragedies in that both rear seat passengers were not wearing seatbelts.
"In fact the seatbelt shown in the picture is locked in its unused position, unable to be freed.
"The other three occupants of the car, a 20-year-old male driver and two 19-year-old male passengers escaped with just minor scrapes and bruising and were able to be interviewed by Police this morning."
Mr Tooman said there had already been seven deaths in the Waikato this year of people thrown from motor vehicles while not wearing their seatbelts.
"In every case, where there has been other people in the vehicle, those wearing seatbelts- though sometimes injured, have survived.
"In this case it may be that these young people could've been able to enjoy breakfast with their families, instead their loved ones are being put through a terrible ordeal as health experts try and save them."
End
