German woman killed in road accident

A German woman is dead and two of her countrywomen are in hospital following a road accident near Bruce Bay in South Westland earlier today.

The 27 year-old deceased woman was a passenger in a car that left the road and hit a tree earlier today. The driver of the car, an 18 year-old German, and the other passenger, a 25 year- old also from Germany, are in hospital.

One of the survivors was flown to Dunedin with serious injuries and the other is in Greymouth Hospital with head injuries.

Constable Paul Gurney of Franz Joseph Police said neither of the injured women’s injuries were believed to be life-threatening.

It is understood the three women had been in New Zealand since November on temporary working visas.

Police are currently trying to contact the next of kin in Germany and the name of the deceased woman will not be released until that has happened.