Seatbelt could have saved crash victim - police

A man killed in a Hamilton crash may have survived if he had been wearing a seatbelt, say police.

Koroheke David Watene, 31, was killed when his Honda Civic failed to take a left hand bend and crossed into the path of an oncoming Toyota Hi-lux, in the suburb of Nawton on Friday evening.

Mr Watene, the sole occupant, died at the scene, while the two people in the Toyota suffered minor injuries and were taken to Waikato Hospital, acting Waikato road policing manager Senior Sergeant Jeff Penno said.

Police were investigating what, if any, part speed and alcohol played in Mr Watene's death, which has been reported to the Coroner.

It was the fifth road death in Hamilton this year, and Waikato's fourth of someone who had not been wearing a seatbelt, Mr Penno said.

- NZPA