Woman in fatal Pahiatua crash is named

Police have released the name of the woman who died when her vehicle collided with a power pole south of Pahiatua yesterday afternoon (Thursday, 6 November).

She was 39-year-old Rachel Frances Van-Der-Weil of Eketahuna.

She was the sole occupant of a northbound vehicle and died at the scene.

Pahiatua Police would like to hear from anyone who saw the green Nissan vehicle driven by Mrs Van-Der-Weil as she headed north between Eketahuna and Pahiatua prior to 1pm yesterday.

In a second incident nearby, a member of the Pahiatua volunteer fire brigade setting up a diversion for the fatal motor vehicle accident was injured when she was backed into by a member of the public. As a result she was taken by ambulance to Palmerston North Hospital with an ankle injury.

Police are investigating both incidents.