Three dead in road crashes

An eight-year-old boy has been killed and at least four other people seriously injured in one of three fatal crashes on New Zealand’s roads today.

In the latest crash, a motorcyclist died after colliding with another rider in Golden Downs, Nelson, shortly before 2pm.

Summit rescue helicopter spokesman Jarrod Colbourne said the victim died at the scene.

The other rider - a 50-year-old Northland man - was flown to Nelson hospital with a suspected neck injury and concussion.

Earlier this afternoon, an eight-year-boy died after the van he was travelling in rolled on the southern motorway near Orams Road in Manurewa.

The victim was initially reported to have been female.

Police northern communications Inspector Cornell Kluessien said at least four other people were seriously injured in the crash but police were yet to determine how many people were in the vehicle.

"One witness mentioned that he saw people being flung out then walking off, but it's quite possible that he saw people being flung out and that there were three hitchhikers walking there," he said.

The scene had been cleared by 4pm but the motorway remained closed at Te Irirangi Drive and Takanini, he said.

Early this morning a teenage driver was killed after crashing on a one-lane bridge near Otorohanga, 65km south of Hamilton.

The crash happened on Mangawhero Rd about 3.20am.

The driver was trapped in the car and died soon after he was freed by emergency services.

- NZPA