The driver of a car that crashed in Bay of Plenty early yesterday has died in hospital, police said today.
He was Kari Hauwaho, 42, of Ruatoki, 23km south of Whakatane.
He was the sole occupant of the vehicle, which crashed about 2am near the town of Taneatua, south of Whakatane.
He was taken to Whakatane Hospital, where he died of his injuries.
Police said inquiries indicated Mr Hauwaho had a pre-existing medical condition and was disqualified from holding a driver's licence.
The Whakatane police serious crash unit was investigating the cause of the crash, which was the only reported weekend road fatality in the country.
