One dead after car hits tree in Taumarunui

LATEST: A 58-year-old man is dead after his car struck a fallen tree lying across the road in Taumarunui today.

The car smashed into the tree on State Highway 43, or Kururau Rd, just 50m from the intersection of SH4 shortly before 1am.

The driver died at the scene.

The man had likely crashed because of the weather and the lack of street lighting, Sergeant Craig Hawkins of Taumarunui police said.

"We do get a lot of trees over the roads in winter time around here."

Police were investigating and next of kin were yet to be notified.

- NZPA