Forestry man dies when loader plunges into river

A forestry loader driver died after his vehicle plunged 15 metres off a bridge into a river in Taranaki yesterday.

The 36-year-old South Island man was taking a load of timber across the bridge on a farm southeast of Mokau, northeast of New Plymouth, when the loader toppled into the Mohakatino river.

Fellow workers jumped into the river but were unable to save him.

"He has ended up going off the side of the bridge and landed upside down in the river," Police Constable Daniel Walter told the Taranaki Daily News.

The man's colleagues said he was a qualified and competent driver.

The death is being investigated by the Department of Labour and the police serious crash unit.

- NZPA