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Wellington City Council is reluctant to say if wet weather contributed to the death of a worker in a city landfill yesterday afternoon.
The man had been driving the truck at the Southern Landfill in Owhiro Bay when it slid down a 50 metre bank and tipped over, council spokesman Richard MacLean said.
The truck was carrying a load of dirt excavated from one of the steep hillsides in the landfill, which was to be spread over the rubbish, Mr MacLean said.
Police and the Department of Labour were investigating the crash.
"I think it would be a bit premature to talk about whether things like rain and slipperiness and everything were a factor," Mr MacLean told NZPA.
The man had worked for the council for quite a few years and lived in Wellington, Mr MacLean said.
Council chief executive Garry Poole said the victim's colleagues were shocked by the "terrible tragedy".
"Our thoughts are with his family and our priority is to help them and his colleagues," he told the Dominion Post.
Police have not yet released the man's name.
- NZPA
