A young man who died in a crash at Hanmer Springs early today had celebrated his 21st birthday just 40 minutes before the crash. He lost control on a slight bend crash on Jollies Pass Rd, Hanmer Springs, wrapping his car around a tree, about 12.40am. Canterbury rural area commander Inspector Peter Cooper told Fairfax the man was an Indian national in New Zealand on a work visa. Police suspected alcohol was too, but this still had to be confirmed, Cooper told Fairfax. The car was heading towards Hanmer Springs when it crashed "right outside the entrance" of the Hanmer Springs Forest Park, about 2 kilometres from the township.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 24, 2017 00:33 UTC