New Zealand Police identify victim in fatal Kauri crash

New Zealand Police have identified 20-year-old Ritchie Tasman Vallender of Kawakawa as the individual who died following a crash on State Highway 1 in Kauri on August 3.

Authorities are renewing appeals for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage of the incident. Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer of the Northland CIB noted that several vehicles were in the area at the time of the crash; some stopped briefly before leaving the scene.

Police are specifically seeking information from anyone traveling on State Highway 1 between Springs Flat Roadhouse and Fonterra Kauri between 8:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Monday, August 3, who may have observed two vehicles traveling at high speed in a northerly direction.