Tokoroa crash victim named

FILE

A man who died in a crash south of Tokoroa last night has been named.

Scott Walker, 47, from Hamilton was killed in a crash on SH1 in the Kinleith Mill area about 9pm when the left-hand drive 1969 black Chevrolet Corvette he was driving crashed shortly after he overtook a truck, police said.

He was travelling south between Tokoroa and Taupo at the time.

Tokoroa Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer David Morris said it appeared the car had veered off the road and smashed into a concrete culvert.

"It was a single vehicle, which was in a real mangled state when we arrived.''

The car was on its side with the dead man inside, Mr Morris said.

"The engine was actually ripped out of the vehicle on impact and thrown about another 10 meters from the vehicle.''

Road conditions at the time were "excellent'', he said.

"The road was dry and the weather was great, it was quite a nice humid night.''

The serious crash unit was investigating and police were interested to hear from any witnesses to the crash, or anyone who saw how the vehicle was being driven prior to the crash.

Contact Tokoroa Police on (07) 885 0100 or Taupo Police on (07) 378 6060.