Fatal collision destroys vehicle

A four-wheel-drive vehicle disintegrated on impact in a fatal collision with a logging truck south of Whangarei yesterday.

The collision happened about 4.45pm on State Highway One just south of the Ruakaka turn-off, 29km south-east of Whangarei, Senior Constable Jim Hawthorn of the Serious Crash Unit said.

The driver of the four-wheel-drive died in the collision. He has not yet named. The fully loaded logging truck was heading north on State Highway One between Mountfield Rd and Doctors Hill Rd, about 2.5km south of the Ruakaka turn-off, when it collided with the southbound four-wheel-drive vehicle.

"The four-wheel-drive was absolutely destroyed," Mr Hawthorn said.

Its wreckage had been scattered 50m along the highway.

The four-wheel-drive had then left the road and caught fire.

The road was closed for about four hours while emergency services removed the wreckage.

The driver of the truck was shaken but uninjured in the collision.

Meanwhile, police today named the driver killed when his car collided with a truck and trailer unit carrying cattleon State Highway 1F, Waiharara, 16km north-west of Awanui, on Wednesday.

He was Patrick George Vujcich, 81.

- NZPA