Waikato Police say each of the weekend's fatalities are a tragedy

With three vehicle related deaths in the Waikato over the weekend the District's chief road policing officer is urging motorists to act responsibly no matter if they are on the road or on the land this summer.

Waikato Road Policing Manager, Inspector Marcus Lynam, said two men died on Waikato roads in separate crashes over the weekend while a toddler lost his life after being run over in a paddock.

"In the first incident 25-year-old Samuel Murray FRANKS of Hoe-O-Tainui lost his life when the driver of the Holden car he was travelling as a front seat passenger in lost control on a straight piece of Awaiti Rd, west of Paeroa, about 11.15pm on Saturday.

"The car has crossed the centreline and the opposite lane of traffic before hitting a bank, crossing over a ditch and rolling about 80m through a fence and paddock before coming to a rest next to a farm paddock."

Mr Lynam said the crash was still under investigation by the Waikato Serious Crash Unit and Police are awaiting the results of forensic examinations to determine what, if any, part speed played in the crash which happened on a dry, straight piece of road.

And while Police are working to establish the cause of that tragedy, crash investigators are now working to determine the circumstances around a ten-month-old boy suffering fatal injuries in a paddock near Ngaruawahia the same evening.

Mr Lynam said Hamilton Police officers were called to Waikato Hospital shortly before 10pm on Saturday following the boy's death.

"The boy's death has been reported to the Coroner and at this time Police would like to extend their sympathies to the family who have asked that their privacy be respected at this time."

Tragedy was again to strike in the Waikato over the weekend after the driver of a northbound Suzuki motorcycle lost control on SH1 north of Rangiriri shortly after 7pm yesterday.

"The 40-year-old male driver hit the wire barrier separating opposing lanes on SH1 and died of his injuries at the scene. Thanks to the wearing of the correct protective clothing a female pillion passenger escaped with moderate injuries and was taken to Auckland's Middlemore Hospital.

"While these fatalities were unrelated each has one common aspect. They all involve a family robbed of a loved one prematurely and Police urge all vehicle users to do their utmost to prevent such tragedies from occurring and remember it is better to be a bit late that to take unnecessary risks."

End

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