{"id":237499,"date":"2026-01-17T05:02:27","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T05:02:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/237499\/"},"modified":"2026-01-17T05:02:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T05:02:27","slug":"sunlive-police-name-driver-21-who-died-in-fiery-crash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/237499\/","title":{"rendered":"SunLive &#8211; Police name driver, 21, who died in fiery crash"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Police have named the young Hamilton man who died in a fiery crash near Rotorua on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>Te Peeti Melahkai Raki, 21, died and two passengers were injured when the car he was driving crashed into a truck and caught fire on State Highway 36 at Hamurana.<\/p>\n<p>Police said today the two injured people remained in hospital.<\/p>\n<p>Police previously said the vehicle was seen cutting off multiple vehicles earlier that day, and travelling at speeds more than 80km\/h above the legal limit.<\/p>\n<p>They received multiple calls about 4.30pm, reporting a silver Lexus being driven dangerously on SH1 south from Cambridge.<\/p>\n<p>Bay of Plenty road policing manager Inspector Phil Gillbanks said police had seen <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nzherald.co.nz\/rotorua-daily-post\/news\/rotorua-sh36-fatal-crash-driver-dies-and-passengers-injured\/HK3NBS4IQFFB7F237GTHKELHUU\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_self\" title=\"https:\/\/www.nzherald.co.nz\/rotorua-daily-post\/news\/rotorua-sh36-fatal-crash-driver-dies-and-passengers-injured\/HK3NBS4IQFFB7F237GTHKELHUU\/\">the car near T\u012brau<\/a> and recognised it as a vehicle of interest after an aggravated robbery in Tauranga on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe manner of driving has been erratic and posed a significant risk to other road users.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Police spiked the vehicle on Oturoa Rd, near SH36, and again on Hamurana Rd about 5.30pm.<\/p>\n<p>Gillbanks said police found the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nzherald.co.nz\/bay-of-plenty-times\/news\/serious-two-vehicle-crash-closes-section-of-tauranga-direct-rd-rotorua\/L76PRM5YL5AOHOSPTUGHSP3H3M\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.nzherald.co.nz\/bay-of-plenty-times\/news\/serious-two-vehicle-crash-closes-section-of-tauranga-direct-rd-rotorua\/L76PRM5YL5AOHOSPTUGHSP3H3M\/\" target=\"_blank\">Lexus had crashed into a truck and caught fire<\/a> on SH36.<\/p>\n<p>He said the driver died and the two young passengers were trapped and seriously hurt.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMembers of the public and officers put themselves at significant risk to put the flames out and protect the car\u2019s occupants from the fire.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople ran to the scene with extinguishers, and about 18 were used to put the fire out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He said their courageous actions saved the trapped passengers\u2019 lives.<\/p>\n<p>Gillbanks said the truck driver sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene by ambulance staff.<\/p>\n<p>Several officers were also treated for minor burns and smoke inhalation.<\/p>\n<p>The police statement today asked for anyone with CCTV footage or dashcam video of a silver Lexus sedan with the registration DZS7 between 4pm and 5.30pm Tuesday to come forward.<\/p>\n<p>Anyone with information was asked to make a report online at 105.police.govt.nz or by calling 105 and using the reference number 260113\/9655.<\/p>\n<p>Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Police have named the young Hamilton man who died in a fiery crash near Rotorua on Tuesday. 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