Four dead after four crashes

A person walking down the street, a motorcyclist and two drivers are all dead after four separate crashes on Sunday night.

Police have confirmed the deaths after two separate crashes in the Canterbury region, another in Masterton and the fourth in Napier.

The pedestrian was struck while walking on High St, in Masterton, after 7pm on Sunday. The victim was taken to Wellington Hospital in a critical condition, but has since died.

Two of the crashes happened in the Canterbury region within about 10 minutes of each other.

About 9.20pm, crews were called to North Parade in Richmond, Christchurch, after a report that a motorcyclist had crashed into a fence.

The victim was initially said to have suffered serious injuries.

The third person who died was also initially seriously injured in a single-vehicle crash at the intersection of State Highway 75 (Christchurch-Akaroa Rd) and McQueens Spur Rd. Emergency staff were sent to the scene about 9.30pm after reports that a car had rolled there.

The fourth deadly crash was in Hawke’s Bay.

Officers and emergency services were called to a single-vehicle crash on Springfield Rd, Taradale, Napier, shortly before midnight.

“The sole occupant of the vehicle died at the scene,” police said.

The fatalities followed a number of other deadly crashes at the weekend, including one in Dunedin, in which two people were killed.

The crash happened about 3.30am and involved a car and a truck. After colliding with the truck, the car caught fire.

Police said the driver and a passenger inside the car both died at the scene. Another passenger suffered serious injuries and was taken to Dunedin Hospital. The truck driver suffered moderate injuries but was treated and discharged shortly afterwards.