Being fit, it's not just important for your health- it's important for the road say Waikato Police reviewing two recent crashes over the weekend.
District Road Policing Manager, Inspector Freda Grace, said the first crash happened early on Saturday morning on Ainslie Rd in Paeroa.
"That crash is still under investigation by the Waikato Serious Crash Unit and we are currently awaiting the results of blood tests, but it appears speed, alcohol and a lack of wearing a seat belt all appear to have been factors in a 24-year-old woman suffering serious to critical injuries after her car hit a power-pole.
"Sadly, if proven correct, these contributing factors seem to mirror a similar crash in Hamilton on Wednesday where a car crashed into a tree after the driver had been drinking leaving two people seriously injured."
Mrs Grace said the second crash happened shortly before 6am today when a car travelling from Rotorua towards Kihikihi collided with a horse on Arapuni Rd by the Pukeatua Primary School.
"It was still dark at the time of the crash and it appears two horses have escaped from a paddock and been in the path of the westbound car. One horse was killed in the collision while one of the occupants of the car suffered serious injury.
"The second horse was located down the road by responding Police and placed in a paddock."
Mrs Grace said while all the factors leading up to the crash were yet to be examined the incident served as a timely reminder to land owners to ensure fences adjoining roadsides were secure and for motorists to ensure their vehicle's lights were functioning properly.
"Road safety is all about prevention, if we can establish all the factors leading up to a crash we can educate the public to hopefully prevent a repetition of what has occurred.
"Just like how we ask all motorists to be fit to drive we ask drivers to ensure their vehicles are fit for the road. We also need property owners to ensure the integrity of their fences and gates. If all that is done then Waikato roads will be a safe place for all our community use and enjoy."
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