The serious crash unit is looking into the circumstances which saw a car swerve into the path of an oncoming truck resulting in a fatal crash on State Highway 2, near Omokoroa last night.
The stretch of highway known as the ‘Flying Mile' was closed for several hours as emergency services worked to clear the scene.
Police are continuing to look into the circumstances of a fatal crash near Omokoroa last night.
Senior Sergeant Ian Campion says a man in his early 20s was killed when the car he was driving crashed head-on with a truck and trailer unit travelling in the opposite direction.
'The car was travelling south towards Tauranga and the truck and trailer unit was travelling north towards Katikati,” says Ian.
While investigations are continuing, initial enquiries show the car had swerved onto the wrong side of the road to avoid an object that had fallen from the truck in front.
The crash caused the other truck to roll to its side and a crane had to be brought in to right the truck and trailer unit before it could be taken away.
'People who witnessed the crash, and haven't already spoken with police, are asked to contact Tauranga Police Station,” says Ian.
Enquiries are continuing to locate the man's next of kin and his name will not be released until they have been notified.
Alternatively, information can be left anonymously via the Crimestoppers line on: 0800 555 111.
8 comments
tourist standown
Posted on 27-02-2015 10:26 | By hapukafin
On the subject of tourist driving wouldnt it be sensible to enforce a 2 day standown period for them to get over jetlag before driving a car.This can be easily monitored by rental company by viewing ticket and be held responsible for it.This will give the tourist an opportunity to famliarise themselves with our traffic rules it may not prevent all tourist accidents but Im sure it will prevent those that happen just down the road.
Was this another tourist
Posted on 27-02-2015 11:46 | By Angel74
to die on the roads or a local that happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time...............
Nowhere in the article
Posted on 27-02-2015 12:27 | By nerak
do I see the word 'tourist', only in the comment section. Perhaps we should wait for more. Altogether very sad.
Overit
Posted on 27-02-2015 13:04 | By overit
What about a gadget like a GPS that is mounted on the dash with a camera that alerts drivers(in their language) when they are crossing the middle line, and tells them the road rules at intersections etc.
Get your facts first
Posted on 27-02-2015 13:29 | By Rate1
Hapukafin - you don't know if he was a tourist or not, so don't speculate until you know the facts. Whatever the outcome, a family will be grieving for the loss of a son.
poor tourist!
Posted on 27-02-2015 14:15 | By SML
Blamed for causing the crash, when it appears it may have been a local with an unsecured load, part of which fell of and the tourist swerved to avoid, that caused the crash. People should take their exercise by jumping to conclusions..... better by far to exercise restraint, and wait for more information.
Rastus
Posted on 27-02-2015 15:46 | By rastus
I commend 'overit' for stating what to me is so obvious - in this day and age if we have not got a company in NZ who couldn't design an electronic monitor and alarm to sound if the vehicle was to go to the wrong side of the road, I would be very surprised - this alarm would indicate as soon as the driver went to overtake, so the driver would soon learn the concept and this I believe would save many lives when he/she accidentally/instinctively steered to the wrong side of the road(obviously the correct side of the road for them in their own country)
was not referring to this accident
Posted on 27-02-2015 16:00 | By hapukafin
Mine was a general statement regarding to this problem the police is trying to solve.Read the first sentence
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