Man dead after serious crash in Harihari, West Coast

Police are responding to a serious single-vehicle crash in Harihari on the West Coast. Photo / NZH

A man has died after his ute went into the Wanganui River near the West Coast township of Harihari.

A police spokesman said the vehicle went into water from Wanganui Flat Rd at about 9.15am on Thursday.

The driver was found deceased in the vehicle, they said.

"Police Search and Rescue teams are working to recover the body."

A dog was located at the scene however it is not yet clear if it belonged to the driver, they said.

A witness said two duck shooters saw a grey flat-deck ute fail to stop at a stopbank and enter the river.

He said police took over from volunteer firefighters as there had been a fatality.

The long road passes through farmland before it stops at a T-junction next to the river.