KEY POINTS:
An 18-year-old youth appeared in Tauranga District Court this morning charged with manslaughter and was remanded on bail to reappear on Monday.
He was granted interim name suppression.
A man acting as the "starter" for a drag race in Mount Maunganui this morning died when a car ploughed into him at high speed.
Police say a large crowd of boy racers had gathered at Aviation Ave - an industrial area near Tauranga Airport - and were racing one another when the 20-year-old was killed about 1am.
Tauranga CIB head Detective Sergeant Greg Turner said the charge reflected the fact that today's death appeared to have been an accident, rather than a deliberate attempt to kill someone.
Police are still seeking the driver of a second vehicle which was believed to have been involved in the fatal race.
Mr Turner said police were called to the scene minutes after the man was killed.
He said it appeared the victim, who was one of the race starters, died instantly from multiple injuries, although police hope to conduct a post- mortem examination this afternoon.
"It's a shocking, tragic death that was very preventable.
"It is very disappointing that a young person's life has been lost in these circumstances, when police, council and local businesses have put considerable resources into trying to prevent the boy racing problem in recent years."
Mr Turner said when police first arrived on the scene there were about 20 cars and 50 people there but there was no doubt others left before police arrived.
"We are still trying to confirm the exact numbers of people who congregated in the area overnight, and piece together exactly how this tragedy unfolded."
Mr Turner said police had already spoken to a number of witnesses but were keen to speak to everyone who was present at the event.
"In particular we want to speak to the driver and occupants of a white Honda who was racing with a Mitsubishi VR4 when the death occurred.
"We do have some leads but we would prefer the driver of the white Honda comes to us," he said.
A team of six detectives and four crash analysts were today involved in investigating the fatality, including a forensic examination of the Mitsubishi.
The dead man's name was not being released at this stage until all his family had been contacted, he said.
Mr Turner said Aviation Ave was a regular haunt for boy racers and today's tragedy was an inevitable outcome of this sort of dangerous activity.
He was surprised someone hadn't been killed much earlier.
Tauranga police were currently working with Tauranga City Council on introducing bylaws which would ban boy racers entering 15 industrial areas in Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Papamoa, including Aviation Ave.
Other areas include Sulphur Point, Truman Rd and Enterprise Drive in Papamoa.
If the proposal goes ahead, only vehicles weighing over 3500kg would be allowed in these areas from dusk until dawn.
Motorists caught within the restricted areas during the off limit hours would face a $500 fine.
Last month Mayor Stuart Crosby told the Bay of Plenty Times the idea behind the proposal would give police more tools to deal with boy racers.
"They won't have to wait until a crime is committed, they can address the issue before groups form and start creating mayhem in our industrial areas."
The proposed changes were being discussed as part of an overall review of the traffic and parking bylaws. Community consultation will be carried out before they are adopted.
There were 800 prosecutions relating to boy racer activities made by Tauranga police last year.
Mr Turner said there was no evidence to suggest petrol or diesel had been poured on Aviation Ave during today's drag race, and police did not believe burnouts were carried out.
The driver of the white Honda and any other witnesses are urged to make contact with the Tauranga police on 577 4300 or 0800 SPEAK UP.
- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES
