One dead in Bay of Plenty truck crash

Update 5.30pm: The road is now open.

A person has died after two trucks collided in the Bay of Plenty this morning.

Head of Western Bay of Plenty road policing Senior Sergeant Ian Campion said early indications showed a empty logging truck was stationary waiting to turn into Pongakawa Station Rd when a truck-and-trailer unit collided into the rear of the stationary truck.

As a result of the crash, the driver of the truck-and-trailer unit which hit the logging truck has died.

General view of the scene of the fatal truck crash. Photo / Alan Gibson

A reporter on the scene said there were debris strewn all up and down the road.

The accident happened about 10.35am near the corner of State Highway 2 and Pongakawa Station Rd, at Pongakawa.

A person has been taken to hopsital for observation.

Police and ambulance were still at the scene, and the road has been closed while the Serious Crash Unit investigates the crash.

Police said traffic from Tauranga was being diverted through Pongakawa School Rd and traffic from Whakatane was being detoured at Old Coach Rd.

The scene of the incident.

Motorists should expect significant delays and police asked people to avoid the area or delay travel.

The road is expected to remain closed until about 4pm.

This is one of a spate of crashes in the Western Bay today.

Other crashes included:

• Three-car crash Moffat Rd, Bethlehem

• Two-car crash in Papamoa

• Car crashes into building in Tauranga

• Truck and car crash by Bayfair

• Welcome Bay crash