Man killed in crash named

A man killed in a single vehicle crash in eastern Bay of Plenty was named by police today.

He was Richard Ryan Apanui, 21, who died yesterday when his vehicle failed to take a sweeping bend in Waimana Gorge, southeast of Whakatane.

His car crossed the centre line and crashed into an embankment, Sergeant Ray Wylie said.

Mr Apanui was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle, he said.

A front seat passenger and two young children travelling in the backseat escaped with minor injuries.

- NZPA