Man dies after crashing into toilet facility

The fatal accident occurred just after midnight on Whirinaki Rd in Hastings District. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Police are seeking witnesses to a crash on Whirinaki Rd early today in which an elderly man died.

Derek Ricketts, 87, of Napier, died when the car he was driving crashed on Whirinaki Rd near Bay View around 12.30am today.

Police say Mr Ricketts was driving his Mercedes E400 north when it veered right, crossed the road and hit a concrete toilet block. He died at the scene.

Senior Constable Ian Cheyne of the Serious Crash Unit said police wanted to hear from anyone who may have seen the silver 2014 Mercedes E400 being driven between Napier Hill and Whirinaki around midnight last night.

"We currently have no witnesses to the crash so we are keen to speak to anyone who may be able to shed some light on how the crash happened. There would have been some traffic on the road, particularly trucks, at this time so someone may have noticed the Mercedes," Mr Cheyne said.

Anyone with information about the crash should contact Mr Cheyne at HB Police on 06 2113650.

The fatality is the third death on Hawkes Bay Roads this year.

Bradley Charles Dobby from Waipukurau was killed after a crash involving a ute and a car, near Waipawa on State Highway 2 and a 2-year-old girl died on the Hawkes Bay Expressway last week after being thrown from a rolling car.