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Police have named the man who died after his rubbish truck crashed into a house on Auckland's North Shore yesterday.
Patrick Harrison, 51, of the Auckland suburb of Avondale, died when his truck crashed over a small retaining wall and hit a house in Radiata Lane, Birkenhead, about 1.30pm yesterday.
Mr Harrison survived the initial impact but died minutes later as a local resident held his hand and tried to comfort him.
It took several hours to release Mr Harrison's body from the mangled vehicle.
Police said a post mortem examination would be carried out today.
Acting Sergeant Blair Atkinson of the Serious Crash Unit said the cause of the crash was unlikely to be known for some time and police were still seeking witnesses.
The owner of the house, which had been sold and was due to change hands within a few days, was following the truck in her car when it left the road and ploughed into the side of the house.
She had been standing in the corner of the house destroyed by the truck a short time before the incident.
- NZPA
