Father of five dies in collision with logging truck

The collision between the logging truck and a Toyota Hilux blocked the highway for hours.

A 39-year-old father of five described as an "all-round good guy" was killed yesterday morning on a stretch of State Highway 1 south of Dunedin where there have been 23 accidents in the past five years.

Forestry worker Colin John Graves, of St Clair, died when the utility he was driving collided with a logging truck south of Allanton.

Police described the stretch of road as a concern and Transit said it was reviewing the speed limit, which may be cut to 80km/h.

The accident was 100m south of a collision between an ambulance and a car that killed 66-year-old Geytha Sharp in March 2003.

Senior Sergeant Alastair Dickie, of Mosgiel, said yesterday's accident occurred at 7.45am when Mr Graves, driving south in a Toyota Hilux utility, swerved around another vehicle turning left off SH1 on to private property.

The driver of a fully loaded north-bound Dunedin Carrying Company logging truck and trailer attempted to avoid the utility but collided, spun and spilt logs across SH1, he said.

The truck and trailer ended up down the eastern bank facing southward.

"The road was wet and greasy but we are still to determine whether it contributed to the accident."

The driver of the logging truck, Peter Graeme Brieseman, 49, was taken to Dunedin Hospital with minor injuries and shock.

Senior Sergeant Andrew Burns, of Dunedin, said the stretch of SH1 through Allanton was a concern because of the 23 accidents, which included yesterday's smash. Reducing the speed limit would have an effect, particularly for the crashes around the intersections with the state highway.

Shaun Graves, brother of Colin, said a cousin of the family was second on the scene and had called Colin's partner to tell her about the accident. She arrived at the scene soon after.

"He was an all-round good guy - he would do anything to help anyone and he loved his kids." Mr Graves had three daughters, a stepson and a stepdaughter.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES