Forklift rolls into sea killing driver

A forklift rolled into the sea at the Port of Napier early today. Picture / Hawke's Bay Today

A man was killed when the forklift he was driving rolled into the sea at the Port of Napier early today.

Sergeant Graham Single of the Napier police said the 74-tonne vehicle was believed to have struck a pothole on the wharf, which caused it to over-balance.

"With the load on the forklift, it's caused it to tip to one side, the weight of the load has flipped the forklift onto its roof," he said.

Emergency services were alerted at 1.25am. Police later named the victim as 49-year-old Napier man Repanga William Taana.

Fire, police and ambulance personnel, worked to free the driver from the crushed cab, but he died at the scene.

Inspectors from the Department of Labour arrived at the scene shortly after the accident to begin an investigation.

Port chief executive Garth Cowie said the employee was driving a heavy-duty container forklift on 4 Wharf when the incident occurred, resulting in the machine tipping over.

"The port's focus at this stage is the welfare of the employee's family and supporting fellow staff members," he said.

The area surrounding the accident was closed while Department of Labour staff carried out an investigation.

- NZPA