A truckie tried to leap from his vehicle moments before it was hit by a train in Waikato, an inquest has been told.
Cory James Clements died during the collision at a level crossing near Rangiriri on February 27 this year when he was catapulted from the cab as he tried to flee.
The 28-year-old father of two was carting heavy machinery for Porter Group when he either didn't see the approaching southbound Northern Explorer passenger train or attempted to cross the railway track anyway, an inquest in Hamilton was told today.
Summing up evidence from Senior Constable Graham Fitzpatrick of the Waikato serious crash unit, Coroner Gordon Matenga said that when Mr Clements tried to cross the main trunk line at Te Onetea Rd at 9.25am his trailer, carrying a 10-tonne roller, scraped the gravel road.
"As he's done so the trailer has ground out, struck the ground, and he hasn't been able to pull the trailer any further than that and by this stage the train is coming closer," Mr Matenga said.