Auckland harbour plunge fatal crash not suspicious

Firefighters recover a vehicle from Auckland Harbour after it drove into the water at Westhaven Dr on Tuesday night. Photo / Doug Sherring

Police will not be releasing the name of the man who drowned after his car plunged into Auckland Harbour this week.

Eyewitnesses watched in horror as the Toyota Prius drove through the Curran St roundabout and headed straight for the water around 7.15pm on Tuesday.

The sole occupant of the car drowned despite attempts by passersby and emergency workers to save him.

Men on a nearby fishing boat smashed the back window of the rapidly sinking car but it quickly disappeared under the murky harbour water next to the harbour bridge.

Others stripped down and swam out to the vehicle but couldn't see anything in the dark.

The car was pulled from the water hours later with the body of the man inside.

A spokeswoman said the name was not going to be released.

The death was not being treated as suspicious and had been referred to the coroner.