As Waikato reels in the wake of a horrific head-on collision that left five people dead yesterday afternoon, police are focusing on why one of the vehicles crossed the centre line.
Emergency services were called to the crash on State Highway 3 in Ōhaupō, between Te Awamutu and Hamilton, at 4.44pm yesterday.
"Police can confirm the three occupants of one vehicle, and two occupants of the other vehicle all died at the scene," said Waikato road policing manager Inspector Jeff Penno.
"To lose five lives in these circumstances is heartbreaking, and our thoughts go out to all the families affected."
Speaking to media outside Hamilton's Road Policing Base this morning, Penno said: "This is a horrendous event."
A two-car collision on State Highway 3 between Hamilton and Te Awamutu on Tuesday left five people dead. (Source: 1News)
"This crash involved one vehicle crossing the centre line, which has tragically collided head-on with the second vehicle, resulting in five people dying at the scene," he said.
"Last evening, the serious crash office conducted a meticulous scene examination.
"At this stage we understand what time it happened, we understand where it happened and we understand how it happened – but we do not understand why."
He said there were "several" witnesses – "but primarily we focus on the physical evidence and what that can tell us".
And police are "well down the path" towards formally identifying the victims, Penno added.
"Out of respect for the families, who are starting a long and painful journey, I don't wish to comment any further on that.
"But all family members have been advised."
He echoed comments from Waipā Mayor Susan O'Regan this morning.
She said it's not a particularly dangerous stretch of road – but it is busy.
Waipā mayor Susan O'Regan said the road isn't particularly dangerous – but it is busy. (Source: Breakfast)
"It's not a high-risk road in the Waikato," Penno said.
"We have a number of high-risk roads... This piece of road is not one of those roads."
Police will be investigating whether drugs or alcohol played a role: "Impairment is always something we look at."
Asked about the cars themselves, Penno said "they were not five star [safety rated] vehicles".
Early indications are that "excess speed was not a factor", he continued, adding "the physical scene" meant police officers couldn't determine if all occupants of the vehicles were wearing seat belts – though "some certainly were".
The area is a 100km/h zone. Penno said "the question would be whether the speed limit is appropriate for that stretch of road".
The crash occurred as the country gears up for a long weekend, celebrating the King's Birthday holiday.
Penno urged drivers to be careful and warned that anyone breaking the rules this long weekend should expect to be caught.
Residents say crash scene was 'horrific'
Dane and Margaret Alexander told 1News they were home at the time of the crash and saw the aftermath from their kitchen window.
"The car was completely on its side, and [I] couldn't see the other car," Margaret said.
She said emergency services began turning people around and stayed there until around midnight.
"Next thing, the fire engine arrived, and they brought out a big sheet to cover the car. Dane said, 'oh someone's been killed' but it never occurred to us it would be five."
Margaret said she could not understand "how this possibly could have happened".
Her husband Dane described the crash so close to his home as "horrific".
"You just wonder how it happened because nothing like that happens on this stretch of road, it's a real good stretch of road around here."
He said everyone in the area travels at 100 km/h.
"The problem is when you've got one coming that way at 100, and another going the other way at 100 and they meet, that's 200. And it's going to be carnage."
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