Truck driver praised for cool head after fatal crash

Photo / APN

A young driver is being praised for his actions after a car collided with his fully-laden truck in a fatal crash on the Eastern Taupo Arterial yesterday.

The sole occupant of the car, 62-year-old Glynn Robyn Ng from Upper Hutt, died in the crash and police say the 22-year-old truck driver's actions in controlling his loaded truck and trailer unit after the crash prevented other vehicles from being involved.

The crash happened on State Highway 1 on the Eastern Taupo Arterial at 3.50pm yesterday when the car crossed the centreline and hit the truck head-on.

Ms Ng was believed to have been killed instantly.

Senior Sergeant Fane Troy said it was "a tragic loss of life on our roads''.

"There was potential for it to be worse if it were not for the actions of the truck driver and his ability to control the truck and trailer unit after the crash,'' Mr Troy said.

The truck driver was shaken by the incident but was not injured.

Mr Troy said several people who saw the crash had already been interviewed by police.

Police were now appealing for anyone else who saw what happened to come forward, he said.