Tourist killed as truck spills load of wood at SH2 crash blackspot

An English tourist was killed yesterday when wood came loose from a truck and smashed into her rental car on a deadly stretch of State Highway 2.

The accident happened about 9.50am at Mangatawhiri when the truck's trailer tipped over, spilling its load of wood across the road.

The crash closed the highway for six hours but police said impatient motorists made work at the scene difficult by trying to evade roadblocks.

Sergeant Harry Watt of the Highway Patrol said a number of motorists even took side roads and got as far as the accident scene before being turned back.

Mr Watt said this was typical of New Zealand motorists. "They get down to the accident scene then get all irate about being turned back. It happens all the time."

The woman, believed to be in her 50s, was holidaying in New Zealand with her friend.

Police said the pair had been in New Zealand for only two days and were heading towards the Coromandel when the accident happened.

The woman's friend was taken to Middlemore Hospital with moderate injuries but was still too shaken yesterday afternoon to give police much information about the crash.

The pair had arrived from Australia and had also travelled through America and Asia.

Mr Watt said the accident was not typical for State Highway 2. Most accidents there were caused by drivers crossing the centre line.

At least 40 people have been killed on the stretch of State Highway 2 between the Bombay Hills and the Thames turnoff since 1999.

Mr Watt said it would be at least a week before police would know how the crash happened and if there was any fault with the load of wood.

The truck driver, believed to be from Thames, was not injured in the accident.

Tackling the toll

Transit wants $43 million to start work late this year on 7.2km of curve-free highway bypassing Mangatawhiri, with 4km of new passing lanes in each direction.

There are also long-term plans to bypass Maramarua township.

The SH2 crash rate is 40 per cent higher than the national average for highways of the same type.