Traffic is diverted from State Highway 33 near Paengaroa after the crash.
Traffic is diverted from State Highway 33 near Paengaroa after the crash.
A Western Bay man has died after a head-on road smash between two cars.
The man, reported to be from Te Puke, died at the scene and a 36-year-old Hamilton man suffered moderate to serious injuries after the accident on State Highway 33, Paengaroa.
Police have this morning released thename of the man killed, click here to find out.
The crash, which happened about 10.15am yesterday on a straight section of road near Patridge Lane, is the sixth fatal crash in the Bay this year.
This year's toll follows 14 fatal crashes last year, resulting in 16 deaths - the worst year for fatalities since 2003. Nine were head-on crashes and three were intersection fatalities.
The accident, on a straight section of road near Patridge Lane, is the sixth fatal crash in the Bay this year. The stretch of highway was closed for several hours.
The same number of people have died so far this year as for the whole of 2013.
Sergeant Wayne Hunter told the Bay of Plenty Times at the scene that yesterday's crash happened after a Volvo heading towards Te Puke and a Honda car travelling towards Rotorua collided.
The driver and sole occupant in the Honda car was dead when emergency services arrived, he said.
Mr Hunter said the Volvo ended up in a grass ditch on the side of the highway, and the driver from Hamilton was in Tauranga Hospital last night after suffering moderate to serious leg and chest injuries.
Passersby helped the injured man to get out of his car, he said. Both vehicles were extensively damaged.
The stretch of highway was closed for several hours and traffic diverted around the crash site via Old Coach Rd, Roydon Downs Rd and Allports Rd until the road reopened at 1.17pm.
The reality is that every one of these crashes could have been avoided ... Sadly another family and community are now grieving the loss of a loved one.
Acting Senior Sergeant Phil Gillbanks said inquiries were continuing, and the name of the dead man was expected to be released today once relatives were informed.
Mr Gillbanks said police appealed to drivers to exercise more care on the roads.
"The reality is that every one of these crashes could have been avoided ... Sadly another family and community are now grieving the loss of a loved one," he added.
Western Bay Police Area Commander Clifford Paxton urged motorists to keep to posted speed limits, wear seatbelts, and take care at intersections and stop signs, and make sure they are well rested before driving.
Meanwhile, a 19-year-old Tauranga man lost control of a vehicle on Borrell Rd, Te Puna at 8.40am yesterday, after taking possession of the car only 24 hours earlier.
Mr Gillbanks said the vehicle slid across the centre line, bringing down a concrete power pole before coming to rest in a large drainage ditch.
Power lines were brought down across the road, which was closed for some time until electricity supply contractors could make the area safe, he said. Power was cut to homes in Te Puna, Whakamarama and Wairoa areas until about 10.50am.
