Wellington  - New Zealand police were waiting Friday to interview a man they believe tried to commit suicide by driving his car head-on into two other vehicles, killing a 26-year-old woman.

Police upgraded the case from a road accident into a homicide inquiry after reports that the 51-year-old man was suicidal and had bought alcohol before driving his car onto a country road near Auckland on Tuesday.

Katie Powles, who was married four months ago, died on the way to hospital, while another victim driving in the second car with his two young sons was seriously injured.

Police said they would question the 51-year-old, who is in Auckland City Hospital with head injuries, when he had recovered.

"We are looking at whether this was a deliberate act," Detective Mark Gutry told the New Zealand Herald. "We don't think it was a spur-of-the-moment thing." (dpa)