In brief

Fatal crash

One person died and two others were seriously injured in a crash on State Highway 3 near Awakino in the Waitomo district about 1.15pm yesterday. A St John spokeswoman said two people were taken to Taranaki Base Hospital in a serious condition. A third person died at the scene, about 5km north of the Awakino Tunnel.

Fears for 76-year-old

An elderly Wellington woman is now thought to have not had any money or identification with her when she went missing a second time in two days. Kebai Liu’s family is anxious about the safety of the 76-year-old who left her house early on Friday. Police and volunteers from around Kebai’s neighbourhood in northern Wellington continued to search for her on Sunday afternoon. Her son, Xiang Li, said his mother’s health had deteriorated rapidly in the past two to three weeks - she had appeared confused and paranoid. His mother first went missing on Thursday morning but was found on Oriental Parade and returned to her family that night. However, she went missing again about 2.30am on Friday. Kebai is Chinese and speaks limited English.

Robbery interrupted

A police officer was assaulted by four hooligans at the weekend at Kihikihi near Te Awamutu. The four offenders, aged between 15 and 39, were foiled as they attempted to rob a liquor store. One man was Tasered. The offenders were interrupted by the owner and a confrontation ensued, a police spokeswoman said. ‘‘A police unit was nearby and responded quickly while the incident was unfolding. A police officer was assaulted and received minor injuries and the store owner was assaulted but was not injured,’’ the spokeswoman said. Three people will face charges including disorderly behaviour, refusing a request for blood, threatening behaviour and assaulting police. The fourth will appear in the Youth Court charged with assaulting police, disorderly behaviour, shoplifting and assault.