Waikato Police reviewing footage leading up to Ohinewai double fatal

Waikato Police will review am-cam footage taken by motorists moments before a collision on SH1 which left two people dead and another seriously injured north of Huntly shortly before 11am.

District Road Policing Manager, Inspector Leo Tooman, said Serious Crash Unit investigators where still at the scene of the crash at Ohinewai working to establish what has happened.

"Initial indications are the driver of a northbound Mazda Demio car has ended up on the incorrect side of the median barrier and subsequently collided with a southbound Honda. The north and southbound lanes are separated by wire barriers, none of which were damaged.

"The two cars collided head-on and the two elderly female occupants of the Mazda suffered fatal injuries while the 30-year-old male driver of the Honda suffered serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to Waikato Hospital."

Mr Tooman said Police were already responding to reports of the car travelling on the wrong side of the road when the crash happened.

"We understand the occupants of one northbound vehicle noticed the car travelling on the wrong side of the barrier and filmed it.

"Contacting the Police Northern Communications Centre the people then dropped the footage off at an Auckland police station who are forwarding it for the investigation team's analysis."

Mr Tooman said while the deceased were yet to be formally identified they were believed to be locals, not overseas visitors.

"It appears today's tragedy was a case of driver inattention. With an anticipated increase in traffic flows over the next few weeks we want to reiterate the importance of keeping to the left at all times."

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