A 14 year old passenger in a 4WD vehicle died when it overturned on a bush track in the Ruatoki Valley early Saturday.

File picture.

Emergency services were called to the remote area 30km south of Whakatane at 3.30am after another passenger ran to the nearest phone, say Whakatane police.

There were three people in the vehicle when it overturned. The 14 year old who was a back seat passenger, died at the scene. The two other people were uninjured. Police will release the name after next of kin have been advised.

The accident happened about 3km off the Ruatoki Valley Road. The Whakatane serious crash unit is investigating the cause of the accident.