Morning:
10°c
New Zealand police name UK crash victims
Ben Bailey17 Sep 2009
A three-year-old British girl, her grandmother and another relative killed in a car crash in New Zealand were today named by local police.
Sera Eades, 60, and her granddaughter Iva Harper died when the car driven by her husband Michael crashed into a power pole, police said.
Mrs Eades' cousin Valerie Bryan, 68, of Castle Donington, also died in the crash yesterday afternoon in the New Brighton area of Christchurch, South Island.
Mr Eades is in a stable condition in Christchurch Public Hospital, police said. His injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
Police said the family were all from the Derbyshire/Leicestershire area and were visiting relatives in New Zealand and had arrived a few days earlier.
The crash happened at 6.20pm local time (7.20am BST) yesterday as the car headed south on Estuary Road, in New Brighton.
Det Sgt Andrew Fabish, of New Brighton police, said funeral arrangements were being made with family and the UK High Commission.
Mr Fabish, of New Brighton police, said it is believed fatigue may have been a factor in the crash.
The investigation will be referred to the coroner.
A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "We can confirm that three Britons were killed in a car crash and one is in hospital at the moment.
"Next of kin have been informed."
The honorary consul, based in Christchurch, had been sent to see the injured man, the spokesman said.
"Consular staff in Wellington are offering assistance to family in New Zealand," he added.
