Paengaroa man Kevin Carran, 64, has been named as the driver killed in a head-on collision between a hot rod and truck on State Highway 2, near Te Puke.

Sergeant Mike Owen from the Western Bay of Plenty highway patrol unit says Kevin was the only person in the hot rod.
'He died instantly.”

Diversions were in place for four hours as emergency services cleared the scene.

The driver of the Isuzu truck involved in the accident remains in hospital with serious leg injuries.

The passenger of the truck, who suffered minor foot injuries, was discharged from hospital on Friday night.

Police are continuing to investigate the cause of a fatal crash.

The Ford Coupe hot rod Kevin was driving, collided head-on with the Isuzu heavy motor vehicle on State Highway 2, between Tainui and Maniatutu Roads, near Pongakawa around 3.15pm on Friday.

Kevin died after he was thrown from his vehicle as a result of the impact from the crash.

It's believed he was preparing to take part in a hot rod run with the Bay Rodders Club this weekend.

Sergeant Mike Owen of the Western Bay of Plenty highway patrol unit says emergency services spent around an hour trying to remove the driver from the truck before he was flown to Tauranga Hospital with serious leg injuries.

'The state highway was closed for four hours while emergency services worked to clear the scene.”

A police crash analyst attended the crash and Mike says investigations are continuing.

He says the cause of the crash is still unknown.

'Police would like anyone who saw a Ford Coupe hot rod in the location of SH2, Pongakawa around the time of the crash to contact the Tauranga South Police Station.”

Alternatively, information can be left anonymously via the Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 line.