One dead when car hits tree in fog near Rangiora

A car has crashed into a tree on Easterbrook Rd in Rangiora.

A young man has died after crashing a car in thick fog near Rangiora this morning.

The crash was not discovered until nearly two hours later because of the fog.

Sergeant Rene Pabst said the 24-year-old driver failed to take a sharp left turn about 6.30am, sending the car down a bank and into a tree.

A resident on the corner of Easterbrook and Hicklands Roads heard a "loud bang" when the crash happened.

"He's gone out and had a look around," Pabst said.

However, because of the thick fog and low light, the man couldn't see the crash. The scene was discovered about an hour and 45 minutes later.

Pabst said the fog was just one of the factors police would be looking at as they investigated.