Use caution on wet Waikato roads message from Police following Waikato fatal

As emergency services work at the scene of a fatal collision between a truck and a car on a busy Waikato Highway, the District's senior road policing officer urges caution on what are considered slippery driving conditions.

District Road Policing Manager, Inspector Dana McDonald, said it was too early to tell what caused the crash that happened on a stretch of SH2 (Pekapeka Rd), between Ngatea and Paeroa about 6.25am.

"The Serious Crash Unit is en-route to the scene about 1km south of the Wharepoa Rd intersection.
What we know at this stage is one person, believed to be the driver of the car, died following a head-on collision with a truck and trailer unit and a second person has been taken to Thames Hospital by ambulance.

"SH2 is closed and is expected to be shut for several hours.

Heavy traffic is already building up and diversions are in place north of the scene on to Wharepoa Rd and south off SH2 via Captain Cook Rd."

While the cause of this morning's crash remains to be determined Mr McDonald said roads in many parts of the Waikato were slippery following light overnight rain and he urged caution on the roads.

"During periods of heavy rain we often find people moderate their driving behaviour but light rain and drizzle can be deceiving, leaving a punishing mix of water and fuel on the surface.

"When you add in that it's taking longer for the sun to come up in the mornings and its getting darker earlier, Police advise caution as the safest option when your heading to and from work today with the simplest prevention option being turning your head lights on so you can be seen from a distance."

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