Police find man missing for hours after triple-fatal Desert Road crash

Monday, 1 June 2026

Three people were killed when two cars crashed on State Highway 1 at Waiouru on Monday.

Three people have died in a crash in Waiouru, early Monday morning.

A person reported as missing after the crash was found by police on Monday afternoon.

Two other people died in crashes overnight, adding to another earlier two deaths, bringing the King’s Birthday road toll to seven.

Police have found a person reported to have been missing after a triple-fatal crash on Desert Road overnight.

Three people were killed and two people were seriously injured in the two-car crash early Monday morning.

“The man initially believed to have been in the vehicle involved in the crash in Waiouru early this morning has been located,” police said on Monday afternoon.

The Desert Road, close to the scene of the crash, on Monday afternoon. Low cloud and rain were setting in as a person remained missing.

“There are no further concerns for his welfare and police are speaking with him.

“Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing,” police said.

It was one of three fatal crashes in what police are calling a “horror night” on the roads that has left five people dead.

“One person died in a crash in Wairakei, one on Waiheke, and tragically, three people were killed in a crash in Waiouru,” Superintendent Steve Greally said.

“That is absolutely gutting.”

The deaths made the King’s Birthday road toll seven.

Emergency services were called to the Desert Road crash about 2.55am, and closed SH1, in Waiouru, between Shawcroft Road and Access Road No 17, until just before 11am.

A person remains missing and the search and rescue operation is ongoing, police said on Monday afternoon.

Low cloud and rain was setting in on the Desert Road.

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A person from Taihape Towing, who towed one of the cars from the scene said it was “unrecognisable” and had the whole front torn off.

Fire and Emergency NZ were called to the scene at around 6.50am and crews from Waiouru spent several hours working to extricate trapped people.

Hato Hone St John said they airlifted one person to Palmerston North Hospital in a serious condition, and another to Whanganui Base Hospital also in a serious condition.

Two ambulances, one rapid response unit, one helicopter and one manager were sent to the scene.

New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Emergency Responders from the nearby Waiouru Military Camp also responded to accident.

NZDF Emergency Responders were the first on the scene with two domestic appliances a spokesperson said.

The Desert Road fatal crash was the second in the area in just over a month. On April 27 three people died after a car crossed the centre line and collided with a tanker truck on SH 1 near Waiouru.

Long weekend road toll hits seven

The crash brings the King’s Birthday road toll to seven. One person died in a single vehicle crash in Waiheke Island on Monday morning. Another person died after a car hit a tree near Taupō on Sunday night.

One person died following a two vehicle crash on SH1 in Allanton, south of Dunedin and a person died after a crash in Taupo on Friday.