KEY POINTS:
The Hawke's Bay man who died when his vehicle crashed into a ditch on the East Cape, north of Gisborne, has been named.
Rua Joseph Morrell, 56, from Pakipaki, 8km southwest of Hastings, was found dead yesterday at the wheel of the ute he was driving between Tokomaru Bay and Tolaga Bay.
He was believed to be travelling to a family farm at Tikapa, northeast of Ruatoria, when the accident happened at Busby's Hill on Monday or Tuesday.
Senior Constable Ray Dever said Mr Morrell had been driving along a straight stretch of road, downhill towards Tokomaru Bay, when he drove through barrier arms and a fence at the side of the road, crashing into a ditch.
Reports of cattle on the road were the sole indication that there had been an accident, Mr Dever said.
"There was nothing to indicate that he tried to brake," he said.
"The only reason he was found was because cattle got out on the road because the fence was down."
Police received reports of wandering stock and alerted the farmer.
"When the farmer went to put the cattle away they all started diving into the hole in the fence. That's when he found the ute."
Mr Dever said it was very lucky the ute had created the hole in the fence, which led to the discovery of Mr Morrell.
"It's just fortunate the farmer got the report of the cattle on the road ... he could still be there and we would not know," he said.
Whether speed or alcohol were factors in the crash was yet to be determined.
He was survived by his wife and two daughters.
- NZPA
