Collision tragic end to visitor's NZ dream

Nathan Boucher was about to move on to explore a new part of NZ when he died.

Frenchman’s car hit by truck after swerving to miss portable toilet

A Frenchman who moved to New Zealand to "make his dream come true" swerved to avoid hitting a portable toilet that had fallen from a truck before colliding head-on with another truck.

Nathan Luc Alain Boucher, 23, from Reze in France, had been living in Tauranga and was on his way home from his last day at work before moving on to explore a new part of New Zealand when he died.

Mr Boucher was driving on State Highway 2 when he crashed near Whakamarama in the Western Bay of Plenty at 5.35pm on Thursday.

He arrived in New Zealand late last year with his friend Cleidson Rubens Pakato, who had been posting videos of their Kiwi adventures on YouTube.

Last night, Mr Pakato posted a tribute video. It featured Mr Boucher surfing in New Zealand, having a Christmas barbecue and enjoying other Kiwi experiences.

"Our Nathan friend had an accident coming home from work. An object fell from a truck and [he tried] to divert ... and ran into another truck," Mr Pakato said.

"Unfortunately, Nathan died. It was his last day of work on the farm and [he] was preparing to meet new places in New Zealand after two-and-a-half months in Tauranga."

Mr Pakato expressed condolences to Mr Boucher's family, saying, "May God comfort them in this difficult time for all of us."

Since the pair arrived in New Zealand, with Mr Pakato's fiancee, they had uploaded videos of themselves sightseeing in Auckland, Tauranga, Rotorua and other locations.

Boucher was driving on SH2 when he crashed near Whakamarama in the Western Bay of Plenty at 5.35pm on Thursday.

Police are still investigating the cause of the crash.

But Senior Sergeant Ian Campion confirmed that a large object fell from a truck into the path of Mr Boucher's car.

"He had to take evasive action, swerving to the left to avoid colliding with the object," Mr Campion said.

"In doing so it appears he lost control of the vehicle, veered back across the road and collided with a truck-and-trailer unit travelling in the opposite direction."

The 49-tonne unit rolled off the north-bound lane of the highway and came to rest upside down, with the driver still inside.

Mr Campion said police were liaising with Mr Boucher's family through the French Embassy.

The driver of the truck that Mr Boucher collided with was unhurt, but left badly shaken.

He was driving for Auckland-based company Jackson Road Haul.

Owner Scott Jackson said the man, in his 50s, had worked for the company for 20 years, and was a highly experienced driver.

The driver was heading to Thames to drop off a load of sawdust at a mill after loading in Kawerau when the crash happened.

Mr Jackson said the driver managed to get out of the truck, possibly with the help of people at the scene.

"He is as well as can be expected but naturally he is still badly shaken up. This was the first time he has ever been involved in anything like this."

The truck suffered major damage and was impounded at Rowe Motors.

Mr Jackson said his thoughts were with the victim's family.

"The accident is clearly no one's fault.

"It's an absolute tragedy."

- Additional reporting: Bay of Plenty Times