12 May 2012

Three US exchange students killed in road crash

8:14 pm on 12 May 2012

Three people killed in a central North Island road crash on Saturday were all young American students on an exchange programme between Boston and Auckland universities.

Those who died were Daniela Rosanna Lekhno, Roch Jauberty and Austin Brashears. Their ages have yet to be confirmed.

Police say eight people altogether were in a people-mover that rolled on Lake Rotoaira Road (State Highway 46), which connects SH1 and SH47 south of the Tongariro National Park, at about 7.30am.

Most of them were thrown out, possibly - police say - because they were not wearing seatbelts.

A 21-year-old woman was taken by helicopter to Waikato Hospital in critical condition. Two women aged 20 and 21 remain in Rotorua Hospital in a stable condition, while a 21-year-old woman and a 21-year-old man were discharged after treatment in Taupo Hospital.

Second vehicle travelling ahead in convoy

A second vehicle, also with eight occupants, was travelling in convoy ahead of the one that crashed. Police say they have been providing support for them since the accident.

They say the students in both vehicles were all on their way to walk the Tongariro Crossing.

Bay of Plenty road policing manager Kevin Taylor says early indications are that the second vehicle drifted left into roadside gravel and rolled several times after the driver overcorrected.