A man is dead after serious crash that has closed the main highway near Pukerua Bay, north of Wellington.
SH59 PUKERUA BAY TO PAEKAKARIKI- CAR ROLL - 11:05AM
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Wellington (@WakaKotahiWgtn) January 30, 2022
Due to a car roll, the state highway is now CLOSED between Pukerua Bay & Paekakariki. Emergency services are now on-site & contractors are attending. Please plan your journey accordingly & avoid this area if possible. ^LZ pic.twitter.com/7cr14DUI4I
Police said a vehicle had rolled and blocked both lanes of State Highway 59 at about 10.30am. Emergency services responded to the crash shortly before 11am, but the driver died at the scene.
Only one vehicle was involved in the crash.
The road is expected to be closed for some time.
The crash was on the stretch of road known as Centennial Highway, which used to be State Highway 1 but was recently renamed to State Highway 59 in anticipation of the opening of Transmission Gully.
There are diversions in place using Grays Road and Paekākāriki Hill Road, but Waka Kotahi warned motorists to expect significant delays.
The Paekākāriki Hill Road is not suitable for heavy vehicles.