Teen dead after car hits power pole

A Rotorua teenager is dead after the car they were driving crashed into a power pole last night.

At 9.55pm the car crossed the centre line and left the road before crashing into a concrete power pole on State Highway 5, north west of Rotorua, Sergeant Pauline Jones said.

The 18-year-old driver died at the scene, while the front seat passenger was taken to hospital with head injuries.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

- NZPA