At around 8.50am this morning Police were advised of a vehicle crash on State Highway 4, near Taumarunui.
A car with two people had left the road and crashed into a tree.
Emergency services attended but sadly the 19 year-old male driver died at the scene. A 22 year-old male passenger was taken by ambulance to Taumarunui Hospital and has since been airlifted by Westpac Rescue Helicopter to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition.
Central District Serious Crash Unit and a number of officers from Taumarunui Police are on the scene.
"The crash will be investigated by the Serious Crash Unit but at this stage the car appears to have left the road in wet conditions. The car has hit the tree on the driver's side and been extensively damaged" says Senior Sergeant Grant Alabaster, Taumarunui Police.
Police are in the process of contacting the victim's next of kin and his name will not be released until this process is complete.
ENDS
Beth Bates/NZ Police