Driver dies after crash on Hawke's Bay Expressway

The driver of a car died after the car hit a tree on the Hawke's Bay Expressway near Tamatea. Photo / Paul Taylor

One person has died after their car smashed into a tree on the Hawke's Bay Expressway in the Tamatea area.

Emergency services were called to the scene at 1.35pm today after a car hit a tree near the Expressway in the Rochester St/Edmundson St area.

The driver was the only occupant of the vehicle.

Initial reports said that the person had suffered serious injuries from the crash but Police have confirmed that the driver died at the scene.

Police were on the scene as a diversion was in place for southbound traffic in the area with road closed for southbound motorists between Taradale Rd and Prebensen Dr for four hours.

The road was reopened to the public at 5.45pm as the crash site was cleared.

SH2 NAPIER, HAWKE'S BAY - SERIOUS CRASH - 2:10PM
Due to a serious crash, #SH2 (formerly #SH50) is CLOSED to southbound traffic between Taradale Rd and Prebensen Dr. Please avoid the area and expect DELAYS. ^CR pic.twitter.com/uMCriTdlFY

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Central North Island (@WakaKotahiCNI) August 4, 2019

The Serious Crash Unit is investigating the cause of the accident.

This latest crash is one of a number to occur on Hawke's Bay roads this year.

A man died in a crash on State Highway 2 between Napier and Awatoto in April and a woman died from her injuries after two-vehicle crash east of Waipawa just a few days before.