KEY POINTS:
An 87-year-old man is dead after his mobility scooter and a light truck collided at Mt Maunganui yesterday afternoon.
The man, who had not been named last night, was killed instantly when the collision happened about 3pm.
The 41-year-old truck driver was not injured but was said to be traumatised.
He was being helped by Victim Support and his family, police said.
They are appealing for witnesses to the crash, saying they were unsure why it happened.
Sergeant Mark Holmes said the scooter was crossing the road from south to north and the Hukapak truck was travelling east when the collision occurred.
"There's a few people who heard it but we're not aware of anybody that actually saw it," he said.
"We're asking for witnesses to come forward and contact [Tauranga's] Greerton police."
The incident happened near a busy intersection close to the Bayfair shopping mall, and slowed traffic to a crawl.
A section of Matapihi Rd, across railway tracks from the mall, was closed for more than two hours while the scene was cleared.
Anyone who saw the collision was asked to contact Greerton police on (07) 578-3460.
