Singer's car torn apart in crash

Rescue workers had no idea how many bodies were in the wreckage of a car torn in half in a fatal collison near Uruti.

Taranaki country singer Graeme Fitzsimons died in a collision between his northbound Honda and a double-decker vehicle transporter on State Highway 3 on Saturday.

It is believed he was killed instantly.

Fitzsimons' death was one of three road fatalities reported at the weekend.

St John district operation manager Ian May said paramedics, who arrived at the site just after 8.30am, found a horrific crash scene with the car torn apart by the impact.

The driver of the car transporter truck, from Auto Movements (NZ) Ltd, was unharmed but shaken.

The Taranaki Daily News understands that rescue workers were concerned there was more than one person in the car, with reports a baby seat may have been seen in the back of the vehicle.

The front half of the car was shunted 20 metres down the road and heavy equipment was required to lift the truck to enable rescuers to determine how many people were in the car.

The crash happened in the Uruti Valley and contact with emergency services was affected by poor cellphone coverage.

A helicopter was stood down because the crash was deemed not survivable.

Mr Fitzsimons and his wife, Janice, released their Just Look At Us country album in 2001.

It received excellent reviews and airplay on radio stations in New Zealand and Australia.

Taranaki country music club patron Ron Hayward knew Mr Fitzsimons for 40 years and said his singing voice was like a fine wine and had got better with age.

"You couldn't ask for a better friend. And their CD was one of the best locally-made country albums in New Zealand."

Mr Fitzsimons and his wife had sold their home and travelled around the country in a mobile home house-sitting for people, he said.

He believed Mr Fitzsimons was on his way to Auckland to be with a sick grandchild at the time of the accident.

"Nobody knows quite what happened at this stage."

He said the family were too upset to talk to the Daily News.

Noelene Franklin, a fellow country musician, said the pair were regulars on the country music scene and a devoted, friendly couple.

She had last seen Mr Fitzsimons at a country music function in Waitara three weeks ago, where he performed.

"It's quite a shock. When something like this happens in the country music community everyone feels it. They were so kind and it's a blow to lose such a talent as well as a caring father and grandfather," Mrs Franklin said.

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