Man killed in Taumarunui crash

Emergency services attended but the 19-year-old male driver of the vehicle died at the scene. Photo / File

A man was killed and another seriously injured when a car crashed this morning near Taumarunui.

The crash happened on State Highway 4 about 30km north of Taumarunui in the central North Island.

The vehicle left the road, went down a ditch and hit a tree, police said.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Emergency services attended but the 19-year-old male driver of the vehicle died at the scene.

A 22-year-old male passenger was taken by ambulance to Taumarunui Hospital and then airlifted to Waikato Hospital in critical condition.

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said the crash, near Ohura Road, had closed one of the highway's two lanes.

Central District serious crash unit and officers from Taumarunui Police were on the scene of the crash.

"The crash will be investigated by the serious crash unit, but at this stage the car appears to have left the road in wet conditions," said Senior Sergeant Grant Alabaster.

"The car has hit the tree on the driver's side and been extensively damaged."

Police are in the process of contacting the victim's next-of-kin and his name will not be released until they have been informed.