Three people have died on the roads this Queen's Birthday Weekend.
One person is dead after a car plunged into the Waioeka River near Whakatane.
The submerged vehicle was spotted by a member of the public around 5am this morning.
Police recovered the car today and were now investigating the incident as a fatal crash.
On Saturday night an 18-year-old driver died after a police pursuit near Dargaville.
Police said a police patrol car driver spotted the driver going at speed through a stop sign in Dargaville about 10.35pm.
The officer activated his flashing lights and siren and went off in pursuit of the Mitsubishi Mirage car as it was driven from Dargaville on State Highway 14, in the direction of Whangarei.
Police said the pursuit lasted just 31 seconds before the man lost control of the car on a bend beside the Dargaville Racecourse, 2km northeast of the town.
The car ran off the road, clipping two pine trees and a fence before coming to rest on the driver's side over a slight embankment. The driver, the sole occupant, died at the scene.
Police said his name would be released after all next-of-kin had been informed.
Alcohol was a suspected factor in the crash and blood had been taken for analysis.
The Independent Police Conduct Authority was investigating the crash.
Early yesterday, a 24-year-old Wairoa man died when the 4WD he was in crashed about 10km south of the town.
No other vehicle was involved and the crash occurred on a moderate bend.
The other occupant of the vehicle, a 15-year-old youth, was not injured.
The dead man has not yet been named.
The holiday weekend road toll period ends at 6am Tuesday.
Five people died on the roads during Queen's Birthday weekend lasy year.
