Body found after 4 days submerged in river

A man was discovered dead yesterday, four days after his car drove off a road and crashed into the Oroua River, near Palmerston North, police said today.

Detective Constable Greg Hogan from Feilding CIB said it appeared the 39-year-old was driving along a dead-end road, near Rongotea, on Thursday when his car skidded and crashed into the river.

Mr Hogan said the area had a lot of rain that day, which may have contributed to the accident.

Constable Andy Livingstone, of Feilding, said earlier that police were called after local farmers noticed the vehicle in the middle of the river yesterday morning.

"The vehicle was partially submerged and a search was conducted of the vehicle and the river by the police dive squad," he said.

The man's body was found about a kilometre downstream from the car at about 3.30pm yesterday.

A post-mortem examination will be conducted today to determine whether the man died from the impact of the accident or later after being swept down the river.

- NZPA