KEY POINTS:
One person died and another was injured after a car crashed into a power pole near Whakatane early today.
Sergeant Ray Wylie said the crash happened at 1.20am on Galatea Road, Te Teko, 21km southwest of Whakatane.
No other vehicles were involved in the crash, which happened when a Toyota Hilux hit a power pole after the driver lost control.
Mr Wylie said one of the car's occupants died at the scene and the other was taken to Whakatane hospital with moderate injuries.
Galatea Road was closed for about four hours while police and the strategic traffic unit investigated the accident.
Inquiries into the cause of the crash were continuing, he said.
- NZPA
