Soldier dies in Unimog accident

The Army's horror run of fatal crashes involving its Unimog vehicles has continued after a soldier was killed and another seriously injured near Blenheim yesterday.

Emergency services rushed to the scene of the crash, involving only the Unimog truck, at Weld Pass about 10km south of Blenheim, but could not save the soldier who died.

The other soldier travelling in the vehicle was flown by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter to Wellington with a suspected spinal injury, and other injuries.

The Unimog was travelling south as part of a convoy about 2.30pm when it left the road and went about 50m down a bank before landing on railway lines. Both soldiers are from Canterbury's Burnham Military Camp.

The dead soldier's name had not been released yesterday, because the Army was contacting next of kin. Police have launched an investigation into the accident.

The Chief of Army, Major-General Lou Gardiner, yesterday expressed his "deep regret at this loss of life and injury".

It is the eighth fatal accident involving a Unimog since 1994. Unimog deaths have already prompted a review of Army driver training.

Army gunner John Penney, 22, is facing a charge of careless driving causing death and two of careless driving causing injury after a collision between a Unimog and a Foodstuffs supply truck on State Highway 1 near Hunterville on February 7.

The crash left Palmerston North father-of-three Shane Ratahi dead. Army gunner Michael Chapman was thrown from the back of the Unimog and suffered life-threatening injuries, including skull and spine fractures.

A coroner's findings into a Unimog crash that claimed the lives of two soldiers, Private Sean Dougherty and Private Daniel Kairua, on Banks Peninsula in August 2004, are due to be released this month.

Their Unimog tumbled down a steep bank during an Army exercise.

In February last year, Privates Ashley Goodwin, Shane Ohlen and David Partington died when their Unimog plunged down a steep bank and into the Kawarau River, near Queenstown.

Army spokeswoman Major Denise MacKay said last night the Army would not discuss the Unimog's crash history.

"The focus is on working through this tragedy."


Dangerous manoeuvres

Army Mercedes-Benz Unimog trucks have been involved in at least seven fatal incidents in the past decade, and several others involving injury:

* Yesterday - One person dies and another is injured after Unimog crashes in convoy near Blenheim.

* February 7, 2006 - Unimog and a truck collide on State Highway One near Hunterville, killing truck driver Shane Ratahi, 44. Unimog driver and two other soldiers are injured.

* September 20, 2005 - Review of Army driver training finds most accidents in military vehicles are caused by errors made by drivers under the age of 25 and suggests additional training and supervision.

* June 21, 2005 - Unimog driven by trainee driver tips over and gets stuck on the Port Hills near Christchurch. No one injured.

* February 23, 2005 - Unimog plunges into the Kawarau River near Queenstown, killing Privates David Partington, 17, Ashley Goodwin, 19, and Shane Ohlen, 21.

*August 20, 2004 - Unimog rolls near Ahaura, near Greymouth.

* August 11, 2004 - Unimog rolls 400m on Banks Peninsula killing Privates Sean James Dougherty, 29, and Daniel Kairua, 22. A third soldier is badly injured.

* April 25, 2000 - Unimog leaves the road and rolls down a bluff near Lolotoe, East Timor, killing Staff Sergeant William White and injuring three others.

* November 30, 1999 - New Zealand military force suffers its first fatality in East Timor when Warrant Officer Tony Michael Walser, 37, is killed carting gravel from a quarry in the Suai region.

* March 18, 1999 - An 18-year-old Waiouru-based soldier is injured after falling from a Unimog while on an exercise.

* July 25, 1998 - One woman dies and another person is critically injured when a car crashes into the back of a moving Army Unimog.

* February 12, 1997 - Thirteen of 17 soldiers in an Army Unimog are injured when it careers off the road.

- NZPA