Smashes kill four

Four people died in three crashes on the nation’s main highway in a 12-hour period.

A female passenger and the male driver of a car died after a head-on crash between a car and truck on State Highway 1 in East Taieri-allanton, near Dunedin, early yesterday, police said.

The driver was trapped in the car with critical injuries after the crash. Police later confirmed the man had died.

The road was closed for several hours while serious crash investigators examined the scene but had reopened by 11am.

There were also diversions after another early morning fatal crash between a car and a truck happened on SH1 about 2 kilometres south of Makikihi, South Canterbury.

The driver of the car died at the scene, while the truck driver was treated at the scene but was not seriously injured, police said.

In the North Island, a man died when a car rolled after two cars crashed head-on on State Highway 1 in South Waikato on Thursday.

Emergency services were called to the scene 4km south of Putaruru, about 5.45pm.

The driver of one of the cars died at the scene.

The male driver of the second car was taken to hospital with moderate injuries.

Police Senior Sergeant Fane Troy said the investigation was still in the early stages.

He made a plea to drivers: ‘‘All motorists are reminded to only drive when they are well rested, to avoid distractions and to drive to the conditions.’’