A man has died after his vehicle plunged 80 metres down a bank north of Hawkes Bay this morning.
Police were alerted by a motorist who saw the car down the bank on SH2 near Morere, north of Wairoa just before 8am.
It appeared the car had driven over the bank at the top of a passing lane on the highway.
Senior Sergeant Maui Aben of Gisborne police said a man's body was found in the car.
It was not known when the crash occurred or how it happened and the police serious crash unit was investigating.