A coroner has attributed a truck accident in Bulls High Street in 2012 to driver fatigue.
Frederick Nathan died on July 17 when his truck failed to take a right-hand bend on High Street and ploughed into the verandah of the RSA building. Part of the building collapsed on to the cab of his truck and pinned him to his seat.
He died at the scene.
Mr Nathan, 37, of Dannevirke, was employed by Relief Driver Services (RDS) and contracted to AF Logistics. He had been through the first part of his driver training programme.
He had started work at 4.30pm on July 16 after having the two previous days off. He was a passenger in the truck that left the Palmerston North depot at 7pm to drive north to meet another truck about 25 minutes north of Taumarunui at top of Waterfall Hill. They had had a 30 minute break in Taihape and a 25 minute stop in Taumarunui.
Mr Nathan then started driving back to Palmerston North at 11.40pm. The accident happened at 3.35am, and it is estimated Mr Nathan had a stop along the way.
The Central District Serious Crash Unit found there was no evidence of breaking or evasive action and no faults were found with the truck and trailer unit.
The driver's logbook for the July 1 to 16 period had no breaches or excess driving hours.
Blood tests showed no alcohol or drugs.
A friend of Mr Nathan's who had seen him two days earlier said he seemed like "a worn-out old man". The driver he travelled with to Taumarunui described him as being in good spirits but frustrated about work and stressed over a family matter.
Coroner Carla na Nagara said the primary cause of the accident was driver fatigue.
"There is no evidence to suggest Mr Nathan had not rested appropriately during his time off, but it is entirely possible he was fatigued due to an accumulation of tiredness and stress."