The man who died when his rental vehicle collided with another car at Te Puna on Boxing Day has been named as Kevin Francis Keane.

Police have confirmed the identity of the 70-year-old Timaru man following the crash on State Highway 2 on December 26.

Fire crews at the scene of the Boxing Day crash.

The victim was driving towards Tauranga when his rental vehicle crossed the centreline and collided with another car travelling in the opposite direction.

Emergency services were called to the fatal crash near Gill Lane, Whakamarama, at about 2.15pm on Boxing Day.

At the time of the crash, Bay of Plenty District Command Centre Senior Sergeant Courtney Brunt said: 'A rental vehicle driven by a sole occupant was travelling from Auckland to Tauranga and veered across the centreline.

'The driver of the rental vehicle is deceased. The two occupants of the other vehicle have been taken to Tauranga Hospital, one with serious injuries.”

The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.