Auckland State Highway 1 reopens after three people died in crash

Both victims of a fatal crash on State Highway 1 in Auckland were young men who were seasonal workers in New Zealand, according to Samoan media reports.

Three people died in the car accident Three other people are being treated in hospital, one of them seriously.

According to Samoa Global News, the two deceased have been identified by their families in Samoa and will return home in two days.

A passenger, also a seasonal worker, was among the injured and reportedly described the accident to colleagues in tears in a Facebook Live broadcast from his hospital bed.

The stretch of Highway 1 where the accident occurred has been reopened. The lane was closed between Mumbai and Ramalama shortly before 2pm on Monday after a truck collided with three other vehicles.

Driver Tamati Cassin, who arrived at the scene about 30 seconds after the crash, said he saw three bodies in a van and three injured people.

Cashin said that as he drove closer to the scene, he saw “a big cloud of dust kicking up” on the highway and wires from metal guardrails scattered across the lanes.

“I had to pull over and get out of the car – now I wish I hadn’t done that, I wish I hadn’t seen the body.

“There were multiple vehicles involved but the van was the worst damaged and the cab of the truck was smashed to pieces. It was an extremely tragic accident.”

Cashin said everyone got out of their cars and tried to rescue the injured and dead, but the scene was “chaotic” and no one knew what to do.

“I feel really bad for the truck driver and the people who lost their lives, I can go home to my partner and my kids but they can’t.”

Counties Manukau road policing manager Inspector Tony Wakelin confirmed all three people who died were travelling in the same vehicle.

A large number of emergency rescue personnel arrived at the scene of the accident.
photo: supply

“The loss of so many lives at one time is shocking and our hearts go out to all those affected.

“Incidents like these are difficult for everyone involved and we are making sure we provide support to those involved, their families and the staff who attended the scene,” he said on Monday.

Anyone who witnessed the accident is urged to contact police, especially those with dashcam video.

Overnight, road construction crews installed temporary steel barriers on the central median to replace the damaged wire rope barriers.

Waka Kotahi Auckland system manager Paul Geck told Morning Report The guardrail destroyed in the accident was of an old type.

“There are different types of guardrails. The newer guardrails are better at stopping trucks and vehicles, but this guardrail is an old-fashioned guardrail.”

Geick said he is not concerned about the integrity of the wire rope guardrail.