Waikato Police investigating the death of three people in a two car collision on SH2 at Maramarua overnight are looking into what, if any, part alcohol played in the crash and the serviceability of one of the vehicles.
District Road Policing Manager, Inspector Leo Tooman, said emergency services were called to the scene of the crash, between the Pink Pig cafe and the Maramarua garage about 8.10pm.
"Initial indications on the cause of the crash are that a westbound Ford Probe car failed to negotiate a gentle left hand bend, spun out of control and ended up in the path of an eastbound Ford Courier utility, it has ended up in a T-bone type collision with the ute impacting the driver's side of the car.
"The 17-year-old female driver of the car, and 18-year-old male and female passengers suffered critical injuries in the crash and died at the scene while the driver of the utility suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries."
The utility driver, a Rotorua District man, was flown to Auckland's Middlemoore Hospital.
Mr Tooman said the formal identification of the deceased was yet to be completed as the trio came from Poverty Bay and family were still travelling to the Waikato and the teenagers' names were not expected to be released today.
"The Waikato Serious Crash Unit is investigating the crash and as well as looking into if the driver had been drinking has identified the standard of the tyres of the car are of concern.
"Toxicology reports will take several days to complete and it will be some time before we can confirm if our concerns are justified."
Mr Tooman said it was disappointing that following a fatal free August three young lives had been so tragically taken.
"Since the redevelopment of identified black spots on this part of SH2 the number of serious and fatal crashes has greatly reduced.
"Unfortunately where last night's tragedy occurred was outside those areas, obviously this location will now be the subject of some scrutiny to see what if any environmental and engineering enhancements can be made."
The Waikato District Road toll now stands at 34 compared to 30 for the same period last year.
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