Man killed in Coromandel crash named

The scene of the crash. Photo / Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust

The man killed in a head-on collision on a Coromandel highway yesterday was 65-year-old Peter Boyce Hutchings.

Mr Hutchings, from Whitianga, died at the scene of the crash on State Highway 25 between Woody Hill and Timata roads, south of Tairua.

Thames-Coromandel strategic traffic unit Sergeant Jim Corbett said early indications were that one car had crossed the centre line and collided with an oncoming vehicle.

Both vehicles had only one occupant, and both drivers were initially trapped in the wreckage.

The surviving driver, a 42-year-old man, was freed by firefighters before being flown to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition.

"SH25 was closed for several hours to allow the recovery and crash investigation operations to be conducted with traffic from Whitianga heading south having instead to be diverted via Coromandel," Mr Corbett said.

"Officers spoke to a number of people at the scene yesterday, however we are keen to speak to anyone else who may have witnessed the crash but not yet spoken to police."

Anyone with information was asked to contact Mr Corbett at the Thames police station on (07) 867 9600.