Northland's road death toll climbs to four after fatal crash at Matakohe

Northland police serious crash investigator, Senior Constable Jim Hawthorn, carrying out a scene examination with the crashed car in the background at Matakohe. Photo / John Stone

A single car crash that resulted in the death of a man has pushed Northland's road death toll to four within a month.

The police Serious Crash Unit is investigating the crash which happened on State Highway 12 in Matakohe, about 8km south west of Paparoa, about 1.30pm yesterday.

A man in his 50s from Paparoa died at the scene after he crashed his Hyundai Lantra saloon while heading towards Dargaville.

Northland police serious crash investigator Senior Constable Jim Hawthorn said the car veered on to the opposite lane before it went off the road and hit a culvert.

The car then spun and flew at least 2m above the ground before it took down the top half of a totara tree.

The vehicle came to a stop on its wheels on grass on the edge of a farm fence, shielded from a row of trees and invisible from the road.

The sole occupant was thrown out of his vehicle. Mr Hawthorn said the driver's seat belt was clicked in place when police arrived at the scene.

Traffic was light when the accident happened.

Tyre marks across the road when the car crossed the centre line were visible and the vehicle's front bumper with the registration plate came off as a result of the impact.

The crash site was blessed by police kaumatua Haki Wihongi before the body was removed.

Traffic was down to one lane for about 3km while police carried out their investigation.

Police will release the driver's name after the next of kin have been notified.

Mr Hawthorn said four fatalities in one month was a lot and advised motorists to drive safely and to drive to the conditions.

Yesterday's fatality followed the death of three pedestrians- all in the mid and Far North- in the first two weeks of this year.

Charlie Rihari, 49, was hit by a car about 1am on January 1 as he walked along Kerikeri Inlet Rd near the intersection of Pa Rd.

Chloe Hope Hartigan was struck by a car just after 2am on New Year's Day on Oruru Rd, just south of the Taipa township. The 17-year-old had been at a New Year's Eve party.

On January 12, 54-year-old Edward Waenga had just sat on a bench in front of Central Dairy on Commerce St in Kaitaia when he was struck from behind by a driver and killed.

Northland's road death toll at the end of January 2016 was three.