Suspect SUV at centre of probe
Torquay man’s death
NEW Zealand police are investigating one of the vehicles involved in a smash that claimed the lives of a Torquay businessman and another Australian.
Stephen Hayden and Australian citizen Nigel Freeman, who had retired to New Zealand, were killed in the South Island collision last week. The Torquay man’s cousin, Mark Hayden, was injured.
New Zealand media have reported that police tried to stop one of the vehicles involved in the collision near Lake Tekapo before the crash.
Police appealed through the Otago Daily Times for anyone who had seen a silver 2017 Toyota Highlander travelling north on State Highway 8.
The highway is the main tourist link between Christchurch and Queenstown and the collision happened in the foothills of New Zealand’s highest peak, Mount Cook.
Police have not disclosed who was driving either of the vehicles involved in the crash.
Mark Hayden has returned home to Australia, a family member confirmed yesterday, and was in “good health”.
Mr Hayden was contacted by the Geelong Advertiser yesterday but did not respond.
He is likely to attend his cousin’s funeral, which will be held at Torquay’s Catholic Church on Friday.
A spokeswoman for New Zealand Police told the Geelong Advertiser that: “The serious crash investigations can take some time — months in some cases — and there is no update to this investigation at this stage.”
The Otago Daily Times said police received three calls over a 15km stretch of highway from concerned motorists about one of the vehicles involved in the smash.
Mid-South Canterbury area commander Dave Gaskin said police had tried to head off the vehicle before anything happened.
This included getting an offduty police officer to intercept the vehicle.
“But unfortunately while he was speaking to the driver he took off and crashed,” Inspector Gaskin told the Otago Daily Times.
“There was nothing more anyone could do.
“Everything was done to try to prevent it but unfortunately we were not dealing with a rational human being.
“Sometimes the best efforts we can do is just not enough.”
Insp Gaskin described the Mackenzie Country crash as one of the most serious he had seen in years.