RANFURLY, CENTRAL OTAGO - Fatal Crash

Police have named the person killed in the crash on the Ranfurly-Patearoa Road near Ranfurly early this morning as Ranfurly local Cobie Levi Detroit STRINGER aged 20 years.

Mr Stringer was a passenger in a Subaru car travelling from Patearoa towards Ranfurly at around midnight. The car failed to take a moderate left hand bend and left the road rolling a number of times before coming to rest upside down on a wire fence. The driver and two other passengers remained inside the car but Mr Stringer was ejected as it rolled and he was found deceased by the other occupants several metres away from where the car came to rest. The other occupants received minor to moderate injuries with all transported to Dunedin Hospital for overnight observation.

No other vehicles were involved and the weather was fine and clear. Serious Crash Investigation staff are at the scene but early indicators are that speed and possibly alcohol are involved.

The driver and surviving passengers were wearing seat belts which has certainly contributed to their escape from serious injury. Inquires are yet to confirm whether Mr Stringer was wearing his seat belt at the time.

Unfortunately this is yet another crash on a rural road which involves speed and possibly alcohol. The loss of this young man will have a huge effect on both Ranfurly and the wider Maniatoto community as the Stringer family are a very well known local Ranfurly family.

It is believed that the black Subaru sedan travelled from Ranfurly to Patearoa early in the evening around 8pm and Police are seeking any sightings of it in the Ranfurly or Patearoa area during the night.

The scene is expected to be cleared by the end of day and family, Police and local Iwi will attend a short ceremony to bless the site tomorrow.