Fatal vehicle accident at Opotiki

One male is dead after a single car accident at approximately 6:45pm this evening on State Highway 35, just east of Opotiki township. The dead man was the single occupant of the car.

At this stage, it appears that the driver approached a Police checkpoint on the east side of Otara bridge at speed and failed to stop when signalled. The car accelerated through the Police checkpoint, losing control approximately 200 metres past the checkpoint. It then swerved and rolled into a ditch on the opposite side of the road.

A full Police investigation is underway, however, it is believed that speed was a contributing factor.

No further details are available at this time.