A horror spell on the region’s roads has seen three drivers dead and one critically injured over an 18-day-period.
Detective Sergeant Lex Bruning, Nelson road policing, says that any loss of life on the roads is a tragedy.
“Sadly, there have been three fatal crashes in the Tasman District within the last month.”
The first victim was 40-year-old Daniel Fish, who died in Wellington Hospital after the car he was driving hit a tree on State Highway 6 in Motupiko on September 19.
Eleven days later, on Monday September 30, another person was critically injured after the car they were driving hit a tree on Eighty Eight Valley Rd in Wakefield. They are still recovering in Wellington Hospital.
On October 2, Nelson teenager Cameron Alexander Anderson, died after a single-vehicle crash claimed his life on the Whangamoa Saddle. The 18-year-old was the only person in the car.
On Sunday a third person was killed. He was Christopher David Heads, 69, of Rai Valley.
Christopher died after the motorcycle he was riding collided with a car on Bulford Rd, near SH6 in Rai Valley at about 11am on Sunday.
Detective Sergeant Bruning says police are urging drivers to take care on the roads.
“We want everyone to get where they’re going safely. Everyone has a part to play when you’re out driving.
He says ensuring every occupant in the car is wearing seatbelts, avoiding distractions such as cellphones at all times when driving, sticking to the speed limit and driving to the conditions can “literally save your life”.
He has one final warning: “Never get behind the wheel if you are intoxicated”.
“It’s simply not worth risking your life.”
Our region’s death toll now stands at five for the year so far.
UPDATE: After this story went to print, there was another fatal crash in the region on Tuesday afternoon, where a person died after a crash involving three motorbikes in Dovedale.
