Driver lucky to be alive after crash

One driver was hospitalised after two trucks collided on Paierau Rd yesterday. Photo / Lynda Feringa

The driver of a small truck is lucky to be alive after his vehicle was in a collision with a fully laden 49-tonne truck and trailer near Masterton yesterday.

The two-vehicle crash happened on Paierau Rd near Loop Line about 9.30am yesterday, the second crash to take place on that stretch of road in just two days.

Police said it was believed the driver of the Isuzu light utility truck, which was pulled over on a lay-by, let a milk tanker pass before doing a U-turn in front of the north-bound Freightliner truck and trailer behind the tanker.

Although the other driver swerved, the impact of the collision fused the two vehicles together and both were dragged about 80m down the road before coming to a halt in a ditch on the side of the road.

A 67-year-old Masterton man, who was driving the smaller truck, was taken to Wairarapa Hospital by ambulance in a stable condition but with a suspected skull fracture and possible chest injuries.

Hamilton-based K & S Freighters driver Dave Brien said he was bound for Hamilton and laden with milled timber collected from Kiwi Lumber when the crash took place. He was relieved to see the driver of the smaller truck walk away from the crash and was thankful he was going slowly behind the tanker.

"It could have been worse, it really could have been worse - if I'd been doing 90km/h, if I was going at that speed it would have been different. I'm just glad the person in the other vehicle is still here."

Mr Brien said if his truck had ended up further into the ditch, it could have rolled on to the other vehicle and "it would have been all over".

The road was down to one lane controlled by stop-go signs while tow trucks and a truck to collect the trailer were dispatched. Constable Dana Johanson said it appeared driver error and "misjudgment and not being vigilant when turning" had caused the crash.

"He's just not seen it [the truck] and pulled out. It's not being observant - just being a bit careless."

It was too soon to say if any charges would be laid, she said.