A Suzuki car travelling west had then taken evasive action and lost control, crashing head-on into the ute.
"Unfortunately, because of the impact the driver of the Suzuki died at the scene," Mr Ormerod said.
A police spokeswoman said the driver's name was not expected to be released yesterday, as police were still notifying the family.
Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash as they search for the small car which left the scene.
It was described as being possibly dark green, from the 1990s, and in a rough condition. It was thought the car could be a Honda Accord.
It was understood the driver of the car had been following a silver vehicle from the Flaxmere Ave and Whitby Cres area before the crash.
This was the third death on Bay roads in just over a week.
On Thursday a motorcyclist died on State Highway 5 near the Te Haroto summit. He has been named as 33-year-old Logan Griffith from Taupo.
Police said it appeared Mr Griffith's motorcycle left the road and hit a fence.
It is understood Mr Griffith used to live in Napier. It was less than a year since his brother Ben also died, according to a Givealittle page which has been started to raise funds for Logan's family, and cover funeral expenses.
Two of the month's fatalities were after-dusk tragedies in which cyclists were killed in collisions with trucks - Helmut Gromer, 54, died on Brookfields Rd, Pakowhai, on April 6, and Benjamin Den Ouden, 30, died on George's Drive, Napier, last Friday.
The recent spate of road deaths prompted police to issue a safety plea yesterday.
Eastern District Road Policing inspector Matt Broderick said road safety was everyone's responsibility, and drivers' decisions were a key part of keeping roads safe as "police cannot do it alone".
"The speed limit is the maximum speed you can go in ideal conditions.
"Speed is a huge factor and just a few kilometres per hour can be the difference between avoiding a collision, or a crash with a tragic outcome."
Mr Broderick urged motorists to avoid distractions, always wear a seatbelt and take rest breaks if necessary.
"Any death or injury on the roads is one too many".
According to Hawke's Bay Today figures, the road toll in the area from Wairoa to the Tararua District this year is 11.
This is almost double the total for the same time last year. The total toll for 2016 was 13.
Meanwhile, two teenagers last night remained in Hawke's Bay Hospital with injuries received when they were thrown out of a vehicle as it rolled down a hillside into a dam after leaving State Highway 2 near Te Hauke early yesterday.
Two others who were understood to have been able to get out of the vehicle after it came to a stop were also taken to hospital but were discharged later yesterday, the Hawke's Bay District Health Board reported.
The crash was reported at 12.40am. Still in hospital last night were a male in a serious condition in the High Dependency Unit and a female in a stable condition in a hospital ward.
* Anyone with information about Saturday's fatal car crash is asked to call Hastings Police on 06 831 0700. Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
* To donate to Logan Griffith's family, go to givealittle.co.nz/cause/helplogansfamily