Double fatality in Northland | Northland News | Local News in Northland

Two people are dead after they fell from their motorbike and collided with an oncoming ute.

Emergency services were called to Murray Rd, 40km southwest of Whangarei, about 1.45pm today (Saturday).

Whangarei police Highway Patrol Sergeant Chris Goodall said the male rider of the northbound motorcycle appeared to have lost control on a left hand bend causing him and his female pillion passenger to fall from the bike and slide across the road.

They collided with an oncoming Toyota Hilux ute towing a trailer.

Mr Goodall said the two deceased were believed to be from Hikurangi, north of Whangarei, and were part of a group ride.

The police serious crash investigators were at the scene collecting evidence and trying to piece together why the tragedy occurred.

Mr Goodall said the road was good and popular with motorcyclists.

Road conditions were understood to have been fairly good at the time of the crash.

The region's road toll now stands at three.

Northland recorded its lowest ever road toll in 2011, with seven people dying on the region's roads, well below the average annual toll of 34 in the region over the past four decades, and police were hoping for more of the same this year, with New Zealand's top roading cop praising the result.

The first fatality of 2012 was after a man died when his car hit a fence near Kaitaia on January 14.