Sudden death inquiry launched following SH1 death Ngaruawahia

Waikato Police have launched a sudden death investigation following the discovery of a man's body on SH1 south of Ngaruawahia overnight.

Western Waikato Area Commander, Inspector Paul Carpenter, said Police were called about a man lying dead on Great South Rd/ SH1 about 9.35pm.

"Police arrived to find a driver who described driving towards the town from Hamilton when he suddenly saw a man on the road in front of his car who he was unable to avoid hitting.

"The struck pedestrian died at the scene. Around this time an intoxicated man was arrested in the town and taken back to the Ngaruawahia Police Station, this man described being involved in a fight on the same road where the man was killed."

Mr Carpenter said the intoxicated man was taken to Waikato Hospital for treatment of an injured shoulder.

"The driver has been cooperating fully with Police and has been interviewed, a focus for the inquiry team right now is to establish just what the victim was doing on the road at this time and what, if any role, the intoxicated man played in events.

"The investigation is very much still in its formative stages and at this point we can confirm we are investigating a sudden death that has been reported to the Coroner," said Mr Carpenter.

SH1 was closed for several hours and diversions put in place to allow a scene examination to take place, the road has since been reopened for traffic travelling in both directions.

Police are asking for anyone who witnessed a fight in or around Great South Rd about the time of the incident, or who saw the pedestrian struck by the car to contact Ngaruawahia Police on 07 824 8199.

Alternatively information can be left anonymously on the crimestoppers crimeline, 0800 555111.