Alcohol may have been a factor after a pedestrian was hit and killed by a car in Waihi last night, police say.
Waikato district road policing manager, Inspector Leo Tooman, said emergency services were called to the scene on State Highway 2, near the intersection with Baxter Rd about 7.40pm.
"It appears a man, understood to be aged 53, was struck down by a southbound Hyundai car and died at the scene of his injuries."
The incident is currently under investigation by the Waikato Serious Crash Unit, however police say alcohol on the part of the victim appears to have been a factor.
Mr Tooman said this latest death took the Waikato's road toll to 40 compared to 34 for the same period last year.
"While every death is a tragedy, one of the most concerning aspects of this total is that six pedestrians have died this year so far on Waikato roads where as between 2006 and 2010 12 pedestrians lives were lost."
