Police investigating the fatal motor accident which claimed the life of 44 year-old Te Iwiroa Manakura Te Hapuka Smith can confirm that a 40 year old male passenger was in the vehicle at the time of the accident and escaped from the car after it entered the water.
He did not require any medical attention.
Police are continuing to investigate the matter on behalf of the coroner and are therefore unable to comment on the time it took for the accident to be reported to them as this forms part of the investigation.
ENDS
Released by Detective Sergeant Grant Johnstone, Invercargill CIB