KEY POINTS:
Police today named an Eastern Bay of Plenty man killed in a head-on smash near Opotiki yesterday.
He was Taylor Whare Tangira, 51, of Te Kaha, 70km northeast of Opotiki.
The crash which happened about 10.15am on the Waiotahi straights on State Highway 2, left two other people injured.
Senior Sergeant Warwick Morehu, of Opotiki, said Mr Tangira was a front seat passenger in a car which attempted to overtake a van and trailer.
"It appears that their car has not been able to complete the pass and crashed head-on into a 4x4 utility heading in the opposite direction toward Opotiki," Mr Morehu said.
A 27-year-old , who was also travelling in the car, suffered serious injuries and was taken to Whakatane Hospital by helicopter.
The driver of the utility, an Opotiki man, was taken to Whakatane Hospital by ambulance after suffering moderate injuries.
- NZPA
