Tauranga fatality takes Christmas road toll to seven

A pedestrian has died after he was hit by a van as he walked on a road outside Tauranga today.

The fatality took the Christmas road toll to seven.

Police said the man, a 24-year-old, had been identified but his relatives had not been told and his name would not be released until they had been informed.

Inspector Darroch Todd from the police northern communications centre in Auckland, said the man died instantly when he was hit by the van, which was heading towards Tauranga.

The driver was unhurt and was unlikely to be charged, he said.

- NZPA