5 Jan 2014

Man dies in jet boat crash

5:29 am on 5 January 2014

A man was killed and a woman was badly hurt when a jet boat hit trees on a river bank near Hastings on Saturday.

The 51 year-old man driving the jet boat was killed instantly when he struck a willow tree on the banks of the Ngaruroro River.

Two other boats which were travelling with the jet boat were further upstream when the crash happened and discovered it when they went down the river to see where the boat was.

A 43 year-old woman passenger suffered neck and chest injuries and was flown to hospital by rescue helicopter in a critical condition.

The hospital said on Sunday night her condition is serious but stable. Three other people in the boat suffered only minor injuries.

Maritime New Zealand and the police are investigating the cause of the accident.