Farmer sees partygoers gather near scene of fatal crash

Scene of fatal car crash on Mountain Road. Photo/Andrew Warner.

There was silence before crowds from an 'out of control' party started to gather around the scene of a fatal crash that claimed the life of a Tauranga man last night.

18-year-old Levi Green was the driver and sole occupants of a Nissan Cefiro that plunged down the side of a 10 metre bank in attempts to flee from police.

Bay man Rodolfo Palma who lives near the scene of the crash on Mountain Rd said he looked out his bedroom window to see crowds from a nearby party gather on the road where a vehicle went off the bank.

"I looked out my window and saw people [from the party] start to come out and I see some car went down," said Mr Palma.

"About 80 people came out and see [the car] had fallen down the bank."

Mr Rodolfo is a farm employee for the property owners where the party was held.

His house is situated close to the woolshed that hosted approximately 150 guests where about a dozen gatecrashers turned up.

Mr Rodolfo struggled to get to sleep with loud music, yelling and revving engines just outside his window.

"I can't sleep and I hear people yelling and cars are loud,"

Police were responding to the out of control party on Mountain Rd when a patrol car signalled a vehicle with its tail lights out to pull over.

The car then sped away from police and within seconds, disappeared over the edge of a bank.

Mr Rodolfo said the music had shut down shortly after the crash occurred and people started to run to the scene.

Officers assisted Mr Green, however he passed away on route to Tauranga Hospital.
Police are working to establish the full details of what occurred at the party.

A serious crash investigation is continuing.