Road accident victim's name released

The scene of the crash on State Highway 2, just south of Waipawa Bridge, on Sunday night. Photo / Warren Buckland

Police have released the name of the 20-year-old man killed in a car crash on Sunday night.

Bradley Charles Dobby was from Waipukurau and had attended Central Hawke's Bay College.

Police said he died at the scene just south of Waipawa Bridge near Ongaonga Rd, where it was believed the Honda sedan he was travelling in had collided with a ute.

He was the first road fatality on Hawke's Bay roads in the new year.

Central Hawke's Bay mayor Peter Butler said his condolences went to the families of all concerned.

"It's something they'll never get over, and its a terrible thing to happen over the holidays," he said.

Mr Butler said residents of the town had been in a sombre mood yesterday.

"Nobody knew who it was, but it wasn't a happy place."

Emergency services were called to the crash near Waipawa on State Highway 2 at 7.30pm on Sunday.

A St John spokesperson said two people involved in the crash had been taken to Hawke's Bay Hospital with minor injuries.

Police said the serious crash unit was still investigating the cause of the crash but it was understood the road had been wet from rain in the area.

Before Sunday's crash, there had been no deaths on Hawke's Bay's roads during the official Ministry of Transport holiday period which began at 4pm on Christmas Eve and ended at 6am this morning.

Including Mr Dobby, there had been 10 road fatalities over the holiday period.

In 2015 15 people died in road crashes in Hawke's Bay/Gisborne, four fewer than 2014 and below the 15-year average of 23.

Nationally the preliminary 2015 road toll was 321 - 27 more than in 2014 and the highest in five years.

-In our story yesterday on the tragedy we mistakenly stated the motorist killed was female. We unreservedly apologise for the error and extend our deepest condolences to the Dobby family.