Emergency services at the scene of yesterday's fatal crash on State Highway 2 near Omokoroa. Photos / John Borren, George Novak
Emergency services at the scene of yesterday's fatal crash on State Highway 2 near Omokoroa. Photos / John Borren, George Novak
UPDATE 1.07pm: Police investigating a fatal crash on SH2 in Whakamarama are now able to confirm that the man who died was a French National in his 20s who had been in New Zealand since late last year.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing, but it appears that alarge object fell from a truck into the path of the young man's car.
He had to take evasive action, swerving to the left to avoid colliding with the object.
In doing so it appears he lost control of the vehicle veered back across the road and collided with a truck and trailer unit travelling in the opposite direction.
Police are currently liaising with family through the French Embassy.
Police said the car swerved to avoid an object that had fallen from a truck in front of him.
"The driver has then had a head on crash with a truck and trailer unit travelling in the opposite direction," the statement said.
The collision caused the truck and trailer unit to roll onto its side and into a ditch.
The Truck driver driver was shaken but not injured.
LAST NIGHT: A person died last night after a collision between a car and a truck and trailer unit on State Highway 2 near Omokoroa.
Photos / John Borren, George Novak
Police said the driver of the car died at the scene but would not reveal the age or gender of the victim last night as next of kin had not been told when the Bay of Plenty Times went to print.
The vehicles collided slightly north of the SH2 intersection with Omokoroa Rd at 5.35pm.
The truck and trailer unit was believed to be carrying wood chips and had rolled on to its side off the north-bound lane of the highway.
The road was closed for several hours while the scene was attended to by emergency services and a crane was called to lift the truck back on to the road.
State Highway 2 yesterday. Photos / John Borren, George Novak
North-bound traffic was diverted around the crash scene, up Youngson Rd, however the road closure and diversions created a back-up of vehicles.
