A spectacular crash caused by a truck and trailer trying to avoid an oncoming car straddling the centre line closed State Highway 1 for more than eight hours.
The driver of the car narrowly escaped death when the truck rolled over the top of his car. He then allegedly took his bag from the wreckage and started walking away before police arrived. The accident occurred at 7.20am on Sunday near the Maromaku turnoff, south of Kawakawa.
Kerikeri police Acting Senior Sergeant Dean Gorrie said the truck was heading south when the driver was forced to take evasive action to avoid the car. The truck rolled, coming to rest on its side and blocking the highway. The car, driven by a 25-year-old Aucklander, came to rest about 20m away. The driver was later spoken to by police and taken to Bay of Islands Hospital in Kawakawa with minor injuries.
Police enquiries were continuing, Mr Gorrie said.