Swarm of bees hinders emergency services attending fatal crash

A truck carrying beehives has collided with a logging truck. Photo / Supplied

One person has died and another been injured in a two-truck crash, which unleashed a swarm of bees, hindering emergency services attending the scene.

The collision happened on McKee Rd, south of Kawerau, about 3.50am where a logging truck and a 5-tonne truck and trailer crashed.

Emergency services had a "problem getting out there" due to the swarm of bees, a northern police communications spokesman confirmed.

"It meant it's taken a while to clear the scene," he said.

The slow-moving logging truck was travelling along McKee Rd in thick fog when a truck carrying beehives, travelling in the same direction, collided with the back of it, police said.

It was earlier reported the crash was a head-on collision.

The male passenger of the 5-tonne truck died.

The logging truck driver was uninjured.

Warwick Wilshier, of Williams and Wilshier Ltd, which owns the logging truck, said the driver of his truck was "okay" following the crash.

"Obviously, he feels for the deceased ... he's a local."

The beehives remained intact and were removed from the scene, police said.

The road was still closed and drivers were advised to seek alternate routes.

It was one of three truck crashes that took place around the country within 24 hours.

A stock truck driver suffered minor injuries after a serious crash near Pukeatua that blocked the main accessway to three Waikato towns.

Emergency services, including a veterinarian, attended the scene at Arapuni Rd near Pukeatua about 7.35am.

Initial reports described a truck and trailer unit carrying 160 weaner calves rolled on its side and straddling the road, Waikato police senior sergeant Andrew said.

Motorists were now advised to avoid travelling between Te Awamutu, Arapuni and Putaruru unless necessary.

Roads were expected to be closed until midday today, Mr O'Reilly said.

Diversions were in place at the intersection of Arapuni and Bulmer roads on to Rotongata and then Waimanu roads.

Meanwhile, three people were hurt, including one who suffered head injuries, when the SUV they were travelling in collided with a truck in Wallacetown, northwest of Invercargill yesterday afternoon.

A Suzuki Vitara drove out from a service station on to the road, which had a 70km/h speed limit, and the front of a Scania heavy truck smashed into the right-hand side of the smaller vehicle, police said.

The three people in the Suzuki were Waianiwa residents, aged 16, 20 and 52, police said.

A 52-year-old woman had been in the front left passenger seat of the Suzuki and was taken to Dunedin Hospital with head injuries.

The truck driver, a 38-year-old man who lived locally, was not injured.

The commercial vehicle investigation unit and serious crash unit will be at the scene today to investigate, police said.