KEY POINTS:
A petrol tanker driver remains seriously ill in Auckland Hospital after his vehicle crashed off the road and overturned near Wairoa.
The 51-year-old Gisborne man, who suffered back, head, and chest injuries, was today reported to be in a stable condition in the critical care unit.
The accident happened on State Highway 2 at Nuhaka, east of Wairoa, shortly after midnight yesterday.
The tanker was carrying more than 30,000 litres of petrol and diesel but there was very little leakage.
SH2 was closed for most of yesterday.
Wairoa police said today it was still not clear what caused the crash.
They had been unable to interview the driver because of his critical condition.
- NZPA
