Road worker dies after being run over

File photo / Martin Sykes

A road worker died after being run over by a tarseal spraying truck north-east of Hamilton today.

Huntly strategic traffic unit Sergeant Juliet Burgess said the accident happened about 3.30pm when emergency services were called to the scene on Woodlands Road.

"It appears a tarseal spraying truck has run over a roadworker on a stretch of roadworks on Woodlands Road, about 5km from the intersection with State Highway 1B, just east of Law Road," she said.

"The 55-year-old Huntly man suffered serious injuries in the incident and died a short time later at the scene."

The Waikato serious crash unit was investigating and the Department of Labour had also been informed.

Mrs Burgess said Woodlands Rd was closed while preliminary investigations were carried out but it was hoped it would be reopened by 7.30pm.

- NZPA