KEY POINTS:
A 52-year-old man and his dog were killed when a car ran out of control and rolled into a Rotorua stream this morning.
Jacob Hakopa Tihema, from Rotorua, was driving on a reserve on Pukuatua Street, near the town's centre.
Constable Leonie Smith said while attempting to do a U-turn near the bank of Utuhina Stream , Mr Tihema's vehicle rolled on its roof into the stream.
A police search for any other occupants of the vehicle was called off once officers contacted Mr Tihema's family and confirmed he and his dog were the only ones in the car.
Ms Smith said Mr Tihema was a regular at the park, where he often walked his dog and went fishing. He visited as often as twice a day.
- NZPA
