Irish victim of NZ crash named

The Irish man who was killed in a crash on New Zealand's South Island has been named.

The Irish man who was killed in a crash on New Zealand's South Island has been named.

He was Leslie Armitage (23), from Co Tipperay.

Mr Armitage and a 21-year-old friend, also from Ireland, had been travelling on a rural road in the Ida Valley, in Otago at 1.30am this morning when the crash occurred

The vehicle in which the men were travelling failed to take a bend and left the road, rolling through a fence into a paddock.

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Mr Armitage was trapped under the vehicle and died at the scene. His passenger was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Police said neither man was wearing a seatbelt and alcohol was a factor.

Sergeant Jill Woods, of Alexandra Police, said alcohol was factor in the crash that happened on Friday afternoon.

"Police have completed an examination of the scene and inquiries into the crash are continuing," she said.
"Alcohol was involved and from our initial inquiries it appears neither man was wearing a seat belt."

Both of the men worked as farmhands in the Ida Valley.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance to the men’s families.