The safety of one of the main highways leading into Tauranga has been questioned following a fatal crash today.
Tauranga man Parminder Jabbal was killed when the car he was travelling in collided head-on with a large truck on State Highway 36.
The 27-year-old was from Ōhauiti. His death has been referred to the coroner.
Emergency services were called to the crash, between TECT All Terrain Park and the Ngawaro Gorge shortly before 4am. The highway was closed for more than nine hours.
Head of Western Bay of Plenty road policing Senior Sergeant Mark Pakes said the impact of the crash damaged the front cab of the truck to such an extent it could not be towed away. A crane had to be called in to pick the heavy vehicle up before it could be removed, prompting the lengthy road closure.