Child dead after van crashes into river

A 12-year-old boy's body has been recovered from a van in the Whanganui River following a road crash last night.

Police said the crash happened about 9.45pm when the van left Somme Parade in Wanganui and went into the river.

A woman and a 14-year-old escaped before the van was fully submerged, but the boy remained trapped.

Sergeant Shaun Jones of Wanganui police said his body was found inside the vehicle shortly after midnight.

Police, the fire service and the coastguard were in the process of removing the van from the river, Mr Jones said.

- NZPA