Approximately 1.15am Friday 25.12.09 Huntly Police were called to attend the scene of a single-vehicle crash at State Highway 1 Hopuhopu south of Taupiri.

A northbound Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback vehicle has crossed the centreline and oncoming lane after clipping a guardrail at the left side of the lane.

The vehicle went off the road surface to the right and down a steep bank coming to rest approximately 8 metres below the road surface.

The driver and sole occupant, a 31 year old male from Ngaruawahia, was ejected from the vehicle; he was transported to Waikato Hospital but died.

The highway was closed for approximately 2 hours while Police and the Waikato Serious Crash Unit attended. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the cause of the crash.