Police have confirmed the victim of a fatal car accident on Saturday morning was 29-year-old taxi driver Abdul Raheem Fahad Syed.
Two occupants of a vehicle involved in the crash on Auckland's Symonds St fled the scene, police say.
The incident happened just before 5am on Saturday morning. The taxi driver died at the scene.
The pair who fled were located soon afterwards, with the assistance of the police helicopter and bystanders.
They were reportedly driving a black Mercedes, which was seen speeding beforehand.
The 20-year-old male driver of the vehicle has been charged with excess breath alcohol causing death, driving with excess breath alcohol causing injury and failure to stop and ascertain injury.
"The driver of the Toyota would not have had a chance," one witness told NZME. "The driver's side of the vehicle was completely destroyed."
Symonds St between Karangahape Rd and Newton Rd were closed on Saturday morning.
The serious crash unit in investigating, and police are speaking to witnesses.
It's the first fatality on the roads since the holiday toll began on Friday afternoon.
So far 370 people have died on the roads this year. Nineteen lost their lives during last year's holiday period.
Newshub.
