Another army Unimog truck rolls down bank

1.00pm

An army Unimog truck rolled down a bank onto its roof inland from Greymouth yesterday, eight days after two soldiers died in a similar incident on Banks Peninsula.

The 2nd/1st Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment from Burnham Military Camp is conducting exercises in the Granville and Paparoa State Forest from August 10 to 21.

The army confirmed the accident took place on Orwell Creek Road, near Ahaura, about 50km east of Greymouth. No one was hurt.

It was the second accident involving the army's Unimog transport vehicles in eight days. Two soldiers were killed when a Unimog left the road on Banks Peninsula last Wednesday.

A witness who passed the Ahaura crash site said the truck rolled down a steep bank, and on to its roof. Only a tree stopped it falling further.

Lieutenant Megan Walsh, army public relations officer for the South Island, said one solider was involved.

"The cause of the accident is yet to be determined however, the driver of the vehicle pulled off to the side of the road to let an approaching vehicle pass.

"It appears that the driver pulled over too far and it is believed that the road gave way beneath the vehicle."

The army was conducting in inquiry into the accident, she said.

Unlike last Wednesday's incident, this Unimog was fitted with a roll bar, designed to prevent crushing.

Private Sean James Dougherty, 29, and Private Daniel Kairua, 22, died when their Unimog rolled 400 metres down a hill during a driver training exercise.

A third soldier was critically injured in the crash.

The Banks Peninsula accident raised questions about the safety of the ageing Unimog fleet.

In 2000, Staff Sergeant Billy White died when the Unimog he was in crashed in East Timor.

His death came only five months after Warrant Officer Tony Walser died in East Timor when a Unimog rolled six metres down a bank.

- NZPA