Truck driver dies in crash with Unimog

An Army Unimog exploded after colliding with a Foodstuffs truck yesterday on State Highway 1 south of Hunterville

An Army Unimog exploded after an accident yesterday, in the seventh fatal crash involving a Unimog since 1994.

In the past six years, there have been more than 120 crashes involving the all-terrain vehicles, raising questions about the safety of the ageing fleet.

In yesterday's accident, the Unimog and a Foodstuffs supermarket supply truck collided on State Highway 1 south of Hunterville, killing the truck driver and seriously injuring two soldiers. The driver of the truck was 45-year-old Shane Ratahi.

Police say the Unimog might have crossed the centre line before the crash.

"The first vehicle, being a military Unimog, has twisted and gone into the ditch and has exploded and has burned," said Senior Sergeant Peter Baird.

Sergeant Peter Wood said other Army personnel, the Fire Service and police quickly extinguished the blaze. One soldier was cut free from the vehicle.

The accident, which happened at 10.10am at the intersection with Te Houhou Rd, closed the highway for about two hours.

Army spokeswoman Major Charmaine Pene said one soldier was in Palmerston North Hospital with a broken leg and another had been transferred to Wellington Hospital with suspected internal injuries. Both were described as being in a serious condition.

A third soldier suffered minor cuts to the face.

The Unimog was travelling from Linton to Waiouru for an exercise.

Foodstuffs Wellington chief executive Tony McNeill said staff would be offered counselling over the driver's death and the company extended sympathies to the family.

Major Pene said a court of inquiry would convene when the police investigation into the crash was completed.

Last year the Army defended the safety of its Unimog fleet - up to 40 are based at Linton - during an inquest into the deaths of Private Sean Dougherty and Private Daniel Kairua.

Their Unimog truck tumbled down a steep bank on Banks Peninsula during an Army exercise in August 2004.

Three soldiers were killed when another Unimog plunged into a river near Queenstown in February last year.