In the 18 months to Monday, first responders had seen the result of crashes that killed 26 people around rural Canterbury.
By Tuesday, it was 28.
Inspector Peter Cooper, the Canterbury Rural Area Commander, is a 40-year veteran but says experience doesn't make fatal crashes easier to deal with.
Ahead of the Easter weekend he's urging motorists to take it slow and stay focused on their driving.
"Every one of those fatalities comes with a massive human toll, affecting the families and friends of the deceased, the motorists who are first on the scene, and the first responders - particularly the large number of them who are volunteers.
"Every death on the roads affects us all - it's people in our rural community who are going to the deaths of people from their communities."
Even for seasoned Police, seeing the effects of a crash on a person can be hard.
"In the space of two hours on Tuesday, the team that investigated a fatal crash in Culverden then had to attend the second fatal crash in Leithfield. It's rough for everyone, and you're seeing things nobody should have to see."
Inspector Cooper didn't want to dwell on the reasons for each crash - but he says drivers need to focus on driving safely rather than pushing themselves and their cars to the limits.
"If the weather's bad like it's meant to be this weekend, slow down. If you're tired from driving, take rest breaks and take in the scenery.
"Drive like your life, and the lives of those you love, depends on it. When we say one death is too many, we mean it."
