KEY POINTS:
A man killed when his car and a truck collided near Mokau, northeast of New Plymouth, yesterday has been named by police.
He was Stephen Nicholas Short, 45.
Constable Daniel Walter, of Waitara police, said today the head-on accident happened about 6am on a straight stretch of State Highway 3 south of the Mokau bridge.
Mr Short, the driver of the white Honda Civic, was treated by paramedics at the scene but died a short time later from his injuries, Mr Walter said.
The truck driver was not injured.
Waitara police earlier said the car was travelling south and the truck and trailer unit was heading north.
It appeared the car was attempting to overtake a truck when the collision occurred.
The force of the impact sent the truck crashing down a bank and on to the Mokau golf course, while the Civic rolled into a ditch on the other side of the road.
Mr Walter could not confirm that speed was the cause of the accident but said the serious crash unit was still investigating.
- NZPA
