Fatality and minor crashes keeps Feilding Police busy

Motorists are urged to slow down and adjust their driving to road and weather conditions after one fatality and two other crashes near Feilding, Manawatu, today.

Police are investigating the causes of each of the three crashes which happened on country roads.

Constable Kim Blanchard, Feilding Police, said the fatality happened shortly after 6.30am when the male driver and sole occupant of a car lost control on a corner in Halcombe Road, 9km from Feilding.

The driver, whose name will be released once next of kin have been traced and notified, died at the scene.

Police diverted traffic onto Mangaone Road and a short time later another man lost control of his car which rolled in the wet conditions.  He was treated for minor injuries.

Soon after midday police were back on Halcombe Road, about 300m from the fatality scene, where a female driver had also crashed.  Ambulance officers treated her at the scene and no other medical attention was required.

"Our message to everyone is to please slow down on our country roads," Constable Blanchard said.  "People must adjust their speed to weather and road conditions, especially when cornering on narrow roads.

"All three crashes involved sole vehicles.  It's a sad but necessary reminder to everyone that they need to concentrate and drive to the conditions when behind the wheel."

Meanwhile police are using dental and forensic records to help identity a male killed when the car he was driving crashed into a culvert and caught fire at Tiakitahuna on State Highway 56 near Longburn, Palmerston North, yesterday morning.

Records are being gathered and the victim's name will be released as soon as he is formally identified.