Teenage driver, hitchhiker die in separate accidents

A teenage driver has died after a fatal crash on the Napier-Taupo Highway last night.

In a separate accident, a man thought to be hitch-hiking from Wanganui to Masterton was killed when a car hit him early today.

The 18-year-old man from Taupo was driving an Isuzu Bighorn 4WD travelling towards Taupo which collided with an eastbound truck and trailer unit about 9.23pm, Sergeant Dave Frazer said.

Mr Frazer said the driver died at the scene, about 35km east of Taupo close to Iwatahi. The sole occupant of the truck was uninjured.

The highway was closed for about seven hours while emergency services tried to clear the truck and trailer unit and traffic from the road.

Mr Frazer said the weather was fine but the road wet at the time of the crash. Any witnesses to the crash are asked to call police.

Meanwhile, a 34 year old man thought to be hitch-hiking died in a crash at 12.15am today about 5km south of Masterton.

The man died at the scene before emergency services arrived.

The driver of the car -- from the Wairarapa -- was "extremely distressed" following the crash and victim support were working with him and his family, Sergeant Chris Megaw said.

The dead man was believed to have lived in the Wanganui area.

- NZPA