10-year old girl in serious condition after accident in New Zealand

The family consisting the parents, 10-year old twins and an older brother were in a Toyota RAV4 which lost control and eventually rolled over after hitting a tree on a road near Lake Rotorua - a popular tourist sport in New Zealand's North Island at about 11:15am (New Zealand time).

Jim Prescott, Rotorua Senior Station Officer, reported to the New Zealand Herald that the passenger side of the car was seriously damaged and both doors had to be removed via hydraulic cutting equipment to rescue the family.

One of the twins - a 10-year old girl - suffered serious head injuries and is in critical condition at Starship Hospital in Auckland. The Straits Times - via the New Zealand tabloid - reported no other vehicles were involved in the accident and the family were initially conveyed to Rotorua Hospital before the 10-year old, accompanied by her father, was airlifted to Starship Hospital 220km away at around 2:00pm (New Zealand time).

According to The Straits Times, the New Zealand police believed there were no signs of speeding but winter conditions could be a possible reason for the accident. "That area near the accident scene had a lot of black ice," said a 60-year old, freelance photojournalist, Peter Graney. He also added New Zealand had just suffered a cold snap from the South Pole and the accident occurred on roads are sheltered from sunlight.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs claim its officers were in contact with the family, but had not been asked for consular assistance. The family were due to return to Singapore this Saturday.