Tauranga man died in fatal crash on SH29 in Lower Kaimai, police seek witnesses

Acting Senior Sergeant Wayne Hunter seeks witnesses to two recent fatal crashes. Photo / File

Police are seeking witnesses to a fatal crash on State Highway 29 in the Lower Kaimai area involving a car and a stock truck and trailer unit on Wednesday night.

Acting Senior Sergeant Wayne Hunter, the head of Western Bay of Plenty road policing, said a 23-year-old man from Tauranga died at the scene.

Hunter said the young man was killed after the car he was driving crashed into the back of a fully-laden stock truck and trailer unit about 8.35 pm on June 3.

The crash happened between Thorne Rd and Poripori Rd and diversions were put in place for several hours as emergency services worked at the scene.

The road was reopened just after midnight.

Hunter said while it was earlier reported that another person was seriously injured, a woman in her 20s also from Tauranga was treated and discharged from Tauranga Hospital last night.

The driver of the stock truck, who was heading to the meatworks in the Hamilton area at the time, was not injured but he was left badly shaken, he said.

Hunter said the weather conditions were "very bad" last night and whether that was
contributing factor to the crash was part of the police's ongoing investigation.

He urged anyone who witnessed the crash or may have information that might help police with their enquiries to come forward.

Additionally, anyone who may have dashcam footage from around the time of the crash was also urged to contact police, he said.

Hunter said police were also keen to hear from witnesses to another fatal crash involving a collision between a cyclist and truck on the intersection of Totara and Maui Sts about 4 pm on May 28.

The cyclist who died was 62-year-old Graeme John Shallcrass from Tauranga, he said.

Hunter said anyone with any information about either crash should call 105 and quote file number 200603/0119 for the SH 29 crash and 200528/142 for the Totara St crash.

Alternatively, information can also be left anonymously via the Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 line.