Police investigate fatal crash

Police are this morning investigating the cause of a crash in Rotorua which killed a 22-year-old man.

He was the front seat passenger in a Nissan Pulsar carrying three young males when, at around 1.40am today, the car collided with a power pole on Vaughan Road.

The man died at the scene while the back seat passenger suffered a broken leg and the 19-year-old driver escaped with only minor injuries.

Police said the power pole and its live cables made it difficult for emergency services to free the men from the wreckage.

A traffic unit was to inspect the scene today while blood samples from the driver were sent for analysis.

Police said it was too early to speculate on what may have caused the crash.

The victim's name was not likely to be released until tomorrow.

- NZPA