Southern fire chief urges drivers to pay attention, as those killed are named

Tuesday, 29 December 2020

Emergency services attend to a crash on the Riverton-Wallacetown highway on Monday.

A rural fire chief is urging road users to slow down and pay attention, as the festive season is marred by deaths.

On Monday, a dairy tanker and a motorcycle collided on State Highway 99, just outside Wallacetown.

Kareen Marie Malcolm and James Lennon Malcolm, both 61 and of Invercargill, were killed in the crash, police said on Tuesday. Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash continued, police said.

As of Tuesday afternoon eight people have died on New Zealand roads since the official holiday period began at 4pm on Christmas Eve.

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Wallacetown Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Blair Eade urged drivers to pay attention and slow down on roads.

There have been a string of fatal and serious crashes near Wallacetown in recent months that his brigade has been called to.

Eade said it was pure luck there weren’t more fatalities, after a car came off a bridge and went into the Makarewa River on October 31.

Wallacetown Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Blair Eade. [File photo]

Matthew Dale Harris, 22, and his infant daughter, Ruby Jane Harris, died after the vehicle they were in was struck by another vehicle on SH6, near Invercargill, on September 2.

Greg Olsen died in hospital more than a week after his car was involved in a crash with a Fonterra tanker on SH99 near Wrights Bush on November 20.

The crash on Monday also involved a Fonterra tanker.

Police are still investigating all three fatal crashes.

Eade said before police finished investigating the causes could not be known, but people were making bad decisions when driving, like speeding or not paying attention.

'Slow down and get home to your families,' Eade said.

The effects on the first responders was difficult, he said, but support from Fire and Emergency New Zealand was good.

The fatal crashes on November 20 and December 28 happened about six-and-a-half kilometres apart.

The holiday period has taken a sombre tone in the south.

On Sunday, 23-year-old Jake Bridson died free diving in the Catlins.

And 17-year-old Lucy Williams, of Clinton, died on Boxing Day after weeks on life-support following a crash near Balclutha on December 5.