Toddler thrown from car was not secured

Police and emergency services at the scene of a crash where a car rolled on the Expressway near Hastings. Photo / Warren Buckland

A two-year-old girl who died after being flung from a rolling vehicle yesterday afternoon was not restrained at the time of the crash, police say.

Senior Constable Corey Ubels said there had been a secured child restraint in the car, and police did not know if the toddler had been unrestrained initially, or if she had "unclipped" the restraint.

Police are still investigating the crash which occurred just before 5pm yesterday on the Hawke's Bay expressway half way between Omahu Road and Flaxmere Ave.

A witness who had been driving on the expressway when the crash happened said she did not see any other car involved.

The witness said the white car "all of a sudden" veered off the road, rolled, and crashed into a ditch.

Mr Ubels appealed to others who witnessed the lead up to the crash to come forward. He said other people must have seen what happened "given it was 5pm on a busy road".

Mr Ubels said there had been a number of witnesses on the scene after the crash, some of whom had given CPR to the toddler before emergency services arrived.

A Hawke's Bay District Health Board spokesperson said the two others injured in the crash, believed to be the toddlers mother and another female child, were in a stable condition.

Last night Police said they believed the car, a Nissan Primera, crossed the centre line, rolled, and landed in a ditch on the side of the road. District Command Centre Senior Sergeant Dan Foley said the child, sitting in a car seat in the rear of the car, was thrown as the car rolled over.

"Despite efforts from police and ambulance services to revive her, the girl died at the scene," Mr Foley said.

Mr Foley said part of the investigation will include obtaining a blood sample from the driver and determining whether or not another car was involved.

The fatality is the second death on Hawke's Bay Roads in 2016.Bradley Charles Dobby from Waipukurau was killed after a crash involving a ute and a car, near Waipawa on State Highway 2.

In 2015, 15 people died in road crashes in Hawke's Bay/Gisborne, four fewer than in 2014 and below the 15-year average of 23.* If you have any information please phone Senior Constable Corey Ubels on 06 2113644.