'Moderately' injured passenger dies

FATAL CRASH? EMERGENCY SERVICES AT THE SCENE OF THE SINGLE-VEHICLE CRASH ON STATE HIGHWAY 1 AT OHAEAWAI ON MONDAY.

The death of a 67-year-old man Englishman, who was believed to have suffered no more than moderate injuries when the car driven by his wife crashed off State Highway 1 at Ohaeawai on Monday afternoon, has provisionally taken Northland's road toll so far this year to three.

Emergency services were called to the scene of the crash about 3.30pm, after the car crossed the centre line and dropped down a steep bank, coming to rest on an old stone wall at the Paheke historic homestead. With Kaikohe's fire brigade, the closest to Ohaeawai, occupied with a potentially serious blaze on Ngapipito Road, the first crew to arrive was from Okaihau.

Chief Fire Officer Bill Hutchinson said the 69-year-old driver, who was not hurt, was already out of the vehicle when emergency services arrived, but her husband, although not trapped, was unable to get out. Firefighters removed the door so St John medics could get him into an ambulance. His injuries were described as moderate.

Northland police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said the man's injuries were not life-threatening, so he was taken to Whangarei Hospital by road. His condition deteriorated, however, and he died early on Tuesday morning, about 12 hours after the crash.

The police Serious Crash Unit carried out an examination at the accident scene on Tuesday.

Meanwhile police would not be releasing the man's name until relatives overseas had been contacted. They would also wait until the investigation was completed before commenting on the possible cause, Mrs Kennett said.

It is believed the couple had been holidaying with family at Waipapakauri, and that they were planning to return to their home in England within the next couple of weeks.

The death will be removed from the road toll if a post mortem examination establishes that he died of medical causes.