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A 64-year-old man and his 86-year-old mother died when their car hit a tree and caught fire in Northland overnight.
Senior Constable Warren Bunn said the station wagon was heading north on Otaika Valley Rd, south of Whangārei, when it veered off the road about 12.15am on Wednesday.
The pair could not be saved, despite the efforts of firefighters and St John Ambulance staff.
Otaika Valley Rd, which forms part of State Highway 15, reopened to traffic early this morning.
Bunn said the mother and son were believed to be locals but they had yet to be formally identified.
An investigation into the cause of the crash was continuing.
According to Ministry of Transport figures, the crash brings Northland's road toll so far this year to seven, compared to three at the same time last year.