Seatbelt may have saved man: police

Failure to wear a seatbelt appears to have contributed to the death of a Hastings man in a crash in Waikato yesterday.

Senior Sergeant Lincoln Sycamore from the Tokoroa police said Hasim Ali, 45, died when the 4WD he was driving on State Highway 1 south of Putaruru collided with an oncoming vehicle about 7.15am.

Mr Sycamore said Mr Ali's vehicle appeared to have crossed the centreline before the crash.

He was thrown from the vehicle on impact and ended up a long way from the wreckage.

A 42-year-old woman in the other vehicle, who was wearing a seatbelt, was taken to Waikato Hospital with serious injuries.

Mr Sycamore said investigations were continuing but police were looking at both the lack of seatbelt and fatigue as being contributing factors.

"Drivers and passengers who don't wear restraints are a concern to police because the consequences of not wearing a seatbelt in the event of a crash are extremely serious," he said.

Both vehicles flipped during the crash and firefighters had to cut the injured woman free from her one.

- NZPA