Road toll hits four on day two of the Christmas holiday period

Sunday, 24 December 2017

Detective Inspector Scott Beard says an innocent man lost his life after a horror hit-and-run in Auckland on Saturday morning. (Video first published December 23, 2017)

The holiday road toll is off to a tragic start after fatal crashes from Whangarei district in the north to Canterbury in the south.

Four people have died and many more injured on the roads so far since the holiday officially started at 4pm on Friday.

'We want to reduce death and injuries on our roads, but police can't be everywhere 24/7 and we rely on the public and our road policing partners to reduce the crashes on our roads,' Police Detective Inspector Scott Beard said.

A fatal crash in Auckland on Saturday morning, caused by an alleged drunk-driver, was a grim start to the festive season road toll.

Nineteen people died over the Christmas holiday period last year, which runs until 6am on January 3.

'Don't speed, drive to the conditions, don't drink and drive, or drive under the influence of drugs, wear your seatbelts - we want people to be around for Christmas festive season,' Beard said.

HOLIDAY ROAD TOLL 2017

Auckland - A 29-year-old taxi driver, Abdul Raheem Fahad Syed, was killed when an alleged drink-driver crashed into his car on Symonds St, Auckland, at 4:45am on Saturday.

Maungatapere - A person died after a single-vehicle crash on State Highway 14, near Maungatapere, Northland, on Saturday at 5.45pm. Two other occupants were injured and taken to Whangarei Hospital.

Hawke's Bay - A person was killed in central Hawke's Bay at 5.35am on Sunday after a vehicle rolled down a bank on Pourerere Rd. The vehicle's passenger died at the scene and the driver sustained minor injuries.

Hanmer Springs - A person died after a car hit a tree on Jollies Pass Rd, Hanmer Springs, at 12.40am on Sunday. The vehicle's passenger sustained serious injuries and was transported to hospital by helicopter.