Friends call cops before fatal crash

A man's car collided with a stone pillar at the entrance to the Eldonwood development in Matamata early Saturday morning claiming his life. CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF

Friends of a man killed after smashing head on into a concrete pillar had phoned police worried about their mate's state to drive.

Alcohol is suspected to be a factor in the crash that killed the 22-year-old man in Matamata early Saturday.

He had reportedly been drinking earlier in the evening before crashing his friend's Toyota Corolla GL into a stone pillar at the entrance to a rural residential subdivision.

Matamata-Piako road policing Sergeant Dean Kaio confirmed police got a call from the man's friends concerned about his state to drive.

Officers went in search of the car but were unable to find it before the crash was discovered at 4.40am, he says.

"There were concerns for both the vehicle and the young fella earlier on in the night.

"There was a suggestion alcohol was involved in this case. Alcohol and speed are two of our biggest concerns for those on our roads - they are not a good mix."

Investigating officers still needed to formally speak with those who were with the man earlier in the night to determine his movements in the hours leading to the crash, Kaio said.

He'd somehow come to be driving his friend's car that was reported to be borrowed at the time.

At this stage police know the man was heading south, possibly home, when he entered the T-intersection at Smith St and Station Rd.

Instead of turning right or left, Dean says the man travelled straight through, smashing head-on into the concrete wall.

"Speed could have been a factor, but it may have been distraction as well. Something took his mind off it and instead of turning right or left he went straight ahead instead.

"A foot to one side and he might have gone straight up the driveway into the housing area."

A resident living near the residential hamlet heard "the bang" and phoned 111.

But the man's injuries were not survivable and he died at the scene.

Dean says police still needed to speak with the registered owner of the car, who was a friend or acquaintance of the man who died.

Police were also waiting on blood test results due back in a week's time.

The latest death takes the number of deaths on our roads this year to 127.

-Stuff.co.nz/Phillipa Yalden.

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