By Chelsea Boyle
The Masterton woman killed after a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 2 near Eketahuna on Friday has been named as 46-year-old Nicola Dawn Dryden.
The woman and her daughter had been travelling north in a blue Holden Barina when it collided with a southbound ute at about 7.45am.
The mother died at the scene, and it is understood her daughter was flown to Palmerston North Hospital in a serious condition.
Tararua Mayor Tracey Collis said her heart and sympathy goes out to those affected by the loss.
“Your life changes dramatically in one phone call.”
She said she also felt for the emergency teams who responded to the crash.
“Our volunteers from the fire service have had [to respond to] two fatalities in a very short space of time.”
The last fatal crash near Eketahuna occurred in October last year, in which a 58-year-old motorcyclist was killed.
When that siren goes off everyone knows those volunteers are attending a medical emergency or an accident, Mrs Collis said.
“The whole township feels that.”
She said she had noticed a large amount of holiday traffic recently and urged people to take care while driving.
“We have had a horrific road toll, right over the country, so I think the message really is drive to the conditions.”
Eketahuna police constable Donna Olliver said police are still investigating the crash.
A media outlet had reported the bridge was too slippery to stand on, a claim which has since been rejected by police, she said.
They are still investigating a diesel spill that stretched out for about 35km between Mt Bruce and Pahiatua.
The vehicle involved in the spill had been identified and the driver has been spoken to by police.
