State highway to close for police investigation days after serious crash

State highway to close for police investigation days after serious crash

A pedestrian was struck by a car in Whakatu, Hawke’s Bay on Saturday night.

A stretch of State Highway 51 in Whakatu will close for a police scene examination around the site of a serious crash that left a pedestrian fighting for life.

Police say their inquiries will include an assessment of whether the incident, in which one person was critically injured, was deliberate.

New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) told motorists via social media to plan for a closure of SH51 between the Railway Rd and Pilcher Rd intersections on Wednesday, August 28 from 7pm to 9pm for a police investigation.

“Detour via Te Ara Kahikatea, Whakatu Rd, Anderson Rd and Railway Rd. HMPVs [high-productivity motor vehicles] to detour via SH2,” the post read.

A police spokesman said the closure was for a scene examination relating to a crash which occurred on on Saturday, August 24.