7 Mar 2020

One dead in truck and car crash

1:45 pm on 7 March 2020

Overnight one person died in a truck and car crash in Palmerston North, and another died in a two-car crash between Napier and Taupō.

Unexplained death in Taita, Lower Hutt early on Sunday 26th January 2020.  A Police cordon and crime scene invetsigation tent were in place Monday 27th January 2020.

Photo: RNZ / Patrice Allen

A truck and a car collided at the intersection of Napier Road and James Line in Whakarongo, a few kilometres east of the central city on State Highway 3.

Police said they were called to the scene about 12.50am.

Manawatū Police are asking for witnesses to come forward after a 19-year-old man died at the scene.

Police said they believed there were "at least three other vehicles in the immediate vicinity at the time, and would like to speak to the occupants of those vehicles".

The Serious Crash Unit examined the scene and the road was closed.

The death will be referred to the coroner.

Further north, another person died in a two-car crash last night between Napier and Taupō.

The crash on State Highway 5 near Te Haroto also left a second person seriously hurt, and a third moderately injured.

Police want to speak to anyone who witnessed the crash or passed by about 9.20pm.

An investigation into the circumstances of the crash is underway.