Police: Casualties on local roads too high

Two near misses and two deaths in two weeks on Central Taranaki roads is four too many, say police.

This follows two car accidents near Ngaere that claimed the lives of Eltham's Don Drabble on Thursday and Shawn Daniel Brandon, from New Plymouth, Saturday.

Shawn was on his way home from Wellington when at 6.20am he allegedly crossed lanes near Climie Road, drove up the eastern side and rolled over.

His female passenger, from Hamilton, was taken to hospital bruised. The police are investigating.

In another incident a motorcycle rider from Rama Road in South Taranaki broke his back when skidding in front of a truck near Te Wera on the Forgotten World Highway.

Police say it appeared he lost control on a bend, but that a third vehicle might have been involved. He was airlifted to Taranaki Base Hospital from where he was transferred to Waikato.

The 52-year-old male truck driver from Midhirst was shaken but unharmed.

Police say no charges have yet been laid in relation to the accident on Pembroke Road on November 16 where a double cab ute hit a house after crashing through a fence.

Sergeant Michelle Collis says people should take extra care to drive safely in the festive season, a time of year which brings on a spade of incidents.