Man dies after car plunges into stream

A man died late this afternoon when the car he was driving ran off the road and plunged into a deep estuary stream feeding into Ngunguru Harbour northeast of Whangarei.

Police said the body of the victim, a single man in his 50s who lived in Whangarei, was recovered after a crane was called in to haul the submerged vehicle out of the stream.

The driver was alone in the vehicle when the accident happened between 5.30pm and 6pm.

The police added the victim's identity was known but his name would not be disclosed until next of kin had been told.

The accident happened at the intersection of two country roads about 16km northeast of Whangarei.

- NZPA