Man dies in Tapanui after ute smashes into garage and bursts into flames

• A man died after his ute crashed into a garage and caught fire in Tapanui.
• Firefighters tried to rescue the man from the burning vehicle but were unsuccessful.
• Police are investigating the circumstances of the crash on Station Rd, reported just after 3.30pm.

A man has died after his ute smashed into a garage and burst into flames in Tapanui.

A man mowing his lawn said he saw the vehicle crash into his neighbour’s garage and then watched as firefighters tried to pull a man from the burning vehicle.

Emergency services said they responded to a “well-involved” vehicle fire in Tapanui, west Otago.

The sole occupant of the vehicle died at the scene, police said.

Police were making inquiries to determine the circumstances of the crash.

A neighbour described seeing the incident unfold.

“I was mowing the lawns, my wife was sitting on the garden seat, talking to a neighbour” when the incident occurred, he said.

“We understand there was a male [in the ute].”

He said firefighters tried to pull the man from the burning vehicle but were unsuccessful because it was “just too hot”.

The neighbour said he wasn’t sure if the man made it out of the vehicle.

Police said they responded to a single-vehicle crash on Station Rd, Tapanui, reported just after 3.30pm.

“A vehicle is reported to have collided with a garage, the vehicle has then caught fire,” police said.

The road was blocked and motorists were advised to avoid the area.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand said it responded to a “well-involved” vehicle fire at the property.

Two crews attended the incident and worked to extinguish the fire.

Hato Hone St John saidit was notified of a motor vehicle incident on Station Rd and responded with one ambulance.

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