Auckland, New Zealand — January 26, 2024 — A pedestrian is dead after being struck by a vehicle on the Kaipara Coast Highway in Makarau early this morning, prompting a police investigation and significant traffic disruptions. It’s the kind of gut-punch news that throws a quiet community into a tailspin, and authorities are now piecing together what happened.
Highway Closed as Police Investigate Fatal Collision
Police are appealing for information from anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has relevant dashcam footage.
- Police responded to a report of a deceased person on Kaipara Coast Highway at approximately 5:20 a.m.
- Investigators believe the pedestrian was hit by a vehicle.
- The highway is closed between West Coast Road and Makarau Road, with diversions in place.
- Authorities are requesting assistance from the public, specifically those traveling in the area between midnight and 5:30 a.m.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting stated that police were called to the scene around 5:20 a.m., where they discovered the deceased individual on the roadway. The circumstances surrounding the incident are currently under investigation, but initial findings suggest the person was struck by a vehicle.
A: Police are requesting anyone who was traveling on Kaipara Coast Highway between midnight and 5:30 a.m. to come forward if they saw a pedestrian or have dashcam footage of the area. Residents with road-facing CCTV are also urged to contact authorities.
“We would like to hear from anyone who was travelling in the area between midnight and 5.30am who had seen a pedestrian walking on Kaipara Coast Highway or has dashcam footage of the area during this time,” Bunting said. He also urged residents in the Makarau area with road-facing CCTV cameras to contact police so they can review the footage.
The Kaipara Coast Highway is expected to remain closed for the next three hours while the Serious Crash Unit conducts a thorough scene examination. Diversions are currently in effect at the intersections of West Coast Road and Makarau Road, and motorists are advised to avoid the area entirely. The closure is causing significant delays for commuters, and local residents are being asked to find alternate routes.
Anyone with information or footage related to this incident is asked to contact police via 105, either by phone or online.
