Cause of crash unknown

A Manurewa man killed when his car hit a tree on Tuesday night had left a family gathering just moments before.

Lata Muliau, 52, was driving alone up Druces Rd towards Wiri Station Rd when he lost control of the car which then veered left into a tree, police say.

Constable Steve Carey says Mr Muliau died at the scene of "multiple trauma" injuries.

So far it’s unclear what caused the crash, he says.

"It was a dry, fine, clear night and at this early stage it doesn’t appear he was speeding."

Crash investigators are still checking the car for mechanical faults and awaiting toxicology results.

Mr Carey says police have yet to discover where Mr Muliau was going or why.

"He’d only just left a family gathering literally just up the road.

"But he didn’t tell them where he was heading."

Police would like to speak to any other motorists or witnesses on Druces Rd at the time.

"There might be people who were in nearby industrial units who haven’t come forward or people in the houses along there who saw something."

Anyone with information can call the Counties Manukau serious crash unit on 261-1300.

- © Fairfax NZ News