Investigation continues in to waimana road crash

At about 1.20pm on Sunday 16 August 2009 emergency services responded to a motor vehicle partly submerged in the Waimana River in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

A 61 year old male was located deceased inside the vehicle.

Enquiries indicate the deceased drove his vehicle at approximately 11pm on Saturday 15 August 2009 having consumed alcohol prior to drivin, he failed to negotiate a left hand bend, leaving the road and ended in the Waimana River.

The partially submerged vehicle was reported to emergency services at approximately 1.20pm on Sunday 16 August.

The deceased was not restrained at the time of the crash, the deceased and vehicle have subsequently been recovered.

This is the second road fatality in the Eastern Bay of Plenty this weekend, both involve acohol and the failure to wear a seatbelt.

Police have conducted a number of campaigns in the past to curb this sort of behaviour.

Sergent Ray WYLIE says it's about time attitudes towards drinking and driving change.

Four out of seven road deaths this calendar year in the Eastern Bay of Plenty involve alcohol as a major contributing factor and the blaize attitude of some motorists needs to change.

The Whakatane Police serious crash team are currently investigating the cause.

The name of the deceased will be released once family and whanau have been notified.