One killed in Southern Motorway crash near Auckland

One person died after a car collided with the median strip and a truck on the Southern Motorway near Pokeno early this morning.

The crash happened at about 4.35 am.

The southbound lane of the motorway remains closed between the Razorback Rd and Nikau Rd interchanges and diversions are in place.

The police serious crash unit is investigating.

It is the first death of the Labour Weekend road toll period.

The official holiday road period runs from 4pm on Friday to 6am on Tuesday.

Last year the Labour Weekend road toll was five, from 94 reported injury crashes.