Inquiry under way after truck driver dies in crash

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Police have a Serious Crash Inquiry underway after a metal truck left State Highway 35 south of Te Araroa on Monday afternoon, and the driver was killed.

The crash was reported to police at around 1.45pm that afternoon.

The single vehicle incident happened about half-a-kilometre from the Awatere Bridge south of Te Araroa.

“The vehicle failed to negotiate a bend, went off the road, and crashed into some trees,” a senior firefighter said.

The male driver was trapped in the cab of the six-wheeler truck.

“He was tended to by Te Araroa firefighters,  pending the arrival of the Tikitiki brigade with cutting gear that was used to extricate the man from the cab, and St John ambulance.”

Sadly the man passed away at the scene of the crash.

Police have not yet released his name as they continue to advise all next of kin.

“Traffic control was put in place while the Serious Crash Unit attended and the vehicle was recovered,” police said.

“One lane of the road was closed.

“Our inquiry into the circumstances of the crash continue.”