"Victim of fatal crash near Lake Pukaki named"

Canterbury Police can now name the victim of the fatal crash involving two vehicles near Lake Pukaki on 5 April 2015. She was 50 year old Jacqueline Helen Marsden from Rotorua.

The death has been referred to the Coroner. Canterbury Police are working with her family who are understandably very upset.

The victim was a front seat passenger in a Ford Courier that was heading north-bound over the Pukaki dam before it collided with a south-bound Landcruiser. The 43 year old female driver of the Courier was taken to Christchurch Hospital by helicopter as a precaution along with the two girls, a one-year old and teenager, who were sitting in the rear seats. They were all wearing safety belts and the one-year old was in a correctly fitted car seat. They were all discharged from hospital and avoided serious injury.

The driver of the Landcruiser, who was also wearing a safety belt, was taken to hospital by ambulance as a precaution and was also later discharged.

Investigations into the cause of the crash are continuing.

Canterbury Police say this is a timely reminder of the importance for those travelling on our roads to use appropriate restraints. The one year old girl was in an approved and correctly fitted car seat and despite sitting behind the front passenger avoided injury.

ENDS

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