Pedestrian dies on SH12 near Kaihu

Northland's fifth death so far this month occurred when a pedestrian was struck at night on a narrow, dark stretch of highway. Photo / File

A pedestrian has died after being struck by a car on an unlit highway north of Dargaville.

The 22-year-old woman was walking north on State Highway 12, at Kaihu, when the tragedy occurred around 9.30pm on Saturday.

The 16-year-old driver was also heading north at the time.

Senior Constable Warren Bunn, of the police Serious Crash Unit, said the pedestrian was wearing dark clothing and the area, which is about 30km north of Dargaville, had no street lights.

There was also a car in the oncoming lane, heading towards them.

Bunn said the stretch of highway where the accident occurred was narrow, with little room on the side of the road. He estimated the left-hand shoulder was only about 30cm wide.

"It's not designed for pedestrians," he said.

Police inquiries, which included talking to people in the Kaihu area at the time, were ongoing.

The woman's name would be released only after next-of-kin had been notified.

Bunn said it had been a tragic few weeks on Northland roads.

"This is the fifth road death in the first 17 days of the month. Usually we average around two a month," he said.

"At the end of the day people need to take more personal responsibility for their actions.

"We are starting to see the consequences of poor decisions being made."

Bunn said the effects went well beyond the death of the person involved.

"It's the follow-on ... These people could be someone's mother, father, brother, or sister. They're someone's family and that's it."

State Highway 12 was closed for much of the night while the Serious Crash Unit carried out a thorough examination.