One man died and another was seriously injured after a car left State Highway 83 just east of the Otekaieke River bridge early yesterday and crashed into a stock underpass.
The Mazda 626 was heading east when it crossed the road at a bend, ran along the road verge, then hit a bank, before veering about 80m back across the road, through a fence, hitting one of the banks lining the underpass and coming to rest on its roof.
Police from Oamaru and Kurow were called to the crash about 5.45am. The two occupants of the car had to be cut free.
Mitchell Thomas Clarke (19), a dairy worker of Duntroon, died in the crash.
A second man was flown from Otekaieke to Dunedin Hospital by the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter, where he was in a serious condition yesterday.
Southern Communications Centre shift commander Inspector Rick Jury said speed had been identified as a factor in the crash and other factors, including alcohol, were being investigated.
The crash had occurred some time before police were called and investigations were continuing to establish what time it happened.
The Duntroon and Kurow Fire Brigades, along with ambulances from Kurow and Oamaru, were called out.
The highway was closed while the crash was investigated, with a detour put in place.
The Otekaieke fatality took the Easter Road toll to four.
A Wellington motorcyclist died yesterday following an accident on Saturday at the intersection of Victoria St and Karo Dr, Wellington.
Another man, died after crashing a stolen Subaru car in the Wellington suburb of Johnsonville.
Police believed speed and alcohol were a factor.
A 50-year-old male motorcyclist died after his bike collided with a vehicle towing a horse float near Wairoa on Saturday night.
Two Dunedin men were in serious condition at Dunedin Hospital yesterday following a crash on the Southern Motorway near the Green Island off-ramp on Saturday night.
Emergency services were called to the area at 9.15pm.
The two Dunedin occupants of the car - aged 23 and 24 - were seriously injured, Acting Senior Sergeant Chris George said.
Police were yet to speak to the men due to the severity of their injuries, he said.
The men were travelling south in a red Toyota four-door sedan, and police would like to hear from anyone who saw the car before the crash.
Police were urging motorists to take care on the road, as no-one wanted a repeat of last year's high road toll of 12 deaths.
The holiday period ends at 6am tomorrow.
