One person dead after Parua Bay crash, Whangārei Heads Rd closed

Police are diverting traffic away from the crash site along Whangārei Heads Rd. Photo / Mike Dinsdale

A rāhui has been put in place following the death of a man whose car left a coastal road and became submerged upside down in water.

Police announced a local iwi had placed the three day rāhui on an area in Parua Bay that extends from the old wharf down Wharf Rd across to Solomons Point.

The restriction on gathering kai follows the death of a 77-year-old man, believed to be local, who died after his car crashed down a bank along Whangārei Heads Rd near Wharf Rd at the base of locally dubbed 'Darkies Hill', around 9.45am.

Whangārei Heads fire chief Paul MacDonald said when they arrived at the scene the car was submerged upside down in the water among the mangroves.

It was high tide at the time, he said.

A short and steep bank, covered slightly in small trees and plants, separates the road from the water's edge.

The intersection of Whangārei Heads Rd and Wharf Rd is a notorious among locals as the scene of many car crashes. Photo / Google Maps

A police spokesperson said the Serious Crash Unit had attended the scene.

The road was closed between Owhiwa Rd (westbound) and Crisp Rd (eastbound) and traffic diverted through Mt Tiger but has since opened.

Police thanked motorists for their patience while the road was closed.

The base of 'Darkies Hill' is a notorious spot for vehicle accidents.

MacDonald said the tyre marks from today's fatal crash were two feet away from the marks left by a car that left the road near Wharf Rd last night.

The Advocate understands the driver, who was not seriously hurt, was helped by a camp manager from HOLYground Parua Bay Christian Youth Haven which is at the base of the hill and on the corner of Wharf Rd.

On October 17, a woman took to Facebook to thank passersby who stopped to check on her after her car rolled off the road and into the mangroves in the same area earlier that day.

Fire, police, and paramedics were called to help the woman, who said she felt "blessed" to live in such an "awesome" and "caring" community.

MacDonald said they attend a few crashes at base of 'Darkies Hill' but a lot of people who have crashed don't ring for help.

Locals often warn motorists about the black spot, saying the road becomes greasy after rain and the traction is poor. It is also not uncommon for diesel spills to occur in the area near Wharf Rd.