An 85-year-old man died after his car left a Dargaville road and ploughed into a pohutukawa tree.
At around 5.30am, the man, travelling alone, was headed east on Baylys Coast Rd when his car hit a tree located roughly 2-3m away from the road.
Police confirmed the man died at the scene of the crash on the stretch of road between the intersections of State Highway 12 and Scottys Camp Rd.
Baylys Coast Rd was closed while the Serious Crash Unit examined the scene. Their enquiries into the cause of the crash are ongoing.