Man died sleeping under truck

File photo / NZ Herald

A man who was killed this morning in Whangarei is believed to have fallen asleep overnight beneath a truck.

The driver is thought to have connected his trailer this morning and driven off - unaware the victim lay sleeping beneath the vehicle.

Police are appealing for information about a truck trailer parked overnight at Whangarei's visitor information centre just south of the city.

The body of a man was discovered outside the centre about 5.45am today.

Whangarei police Senior Constable Paul Nicholas said it appeared the victim had fallen asleep beneath the trailer unit, which had been parked overnight at the centre.

It's thought the truck driver returned early today, hooked up to the trailer and drove off.

Mr Nicholas said police wanted to speak to the driver or anyone who may know who the driver was, or had information about drivers who parked at the centre regularly.

The dead man was yet to be formally identified, he said.

Police earlier closed Otaika Rd in Raumanga, part of State Highway 1, after the incident.

The police serious crash unit is investigating.

The road is a major thoroughfare, and police said traffic delays in the area were expected.

Light traffic was being diverted down Collingwood St through to Tarewa Rd and back to the main road.

Heavy traffic was being diverted down Rewa Rewa Rd through to Tarewa Rd.