Tragic death as girl hit by logging truck

A 13-year-old girl died this morning after she was hit by a logging truck outside Mount Maunganui College.
The Welcome Bay girl was about to cross the road with her older brother at 8.15am when the incident happened. Constable Pete Mitchell of the police Strategic Traffic Unit said it appeared the girl was clipped by a logging truck travelling towards Mount Maunganui on Maunganui Rd.
"The logging truck hasn't stopped so obviously we need any witnesses to come forward," he said.
Another brother had dropped the two off at the school and then witnessed the incident. Mr Mitchell said police had spoken with him.
He believed many other people would have seen the collision and he urged them to contact police.
Mount Maunganui College principal Terry Collett said today his ``worst fear' had come true.
"The speed limit is far too fast for the volume of kids [using] Maunganui Rd."
Mr Collett said the school was focusing on offering support to traumatised students _ and making sure "parents could be with their kids".
Staff also wanted to do whatever they could to support their fatally injured girl's friends and family.
The accident was witnessed by many students arriving at school on buses.
In February last year the Bay of Plenty Times featured an article about how students at Mount Maunganui College were playing "Russian roulette" every time they crossed the road to school because cars can speed past at up to 70kmh.
Assistant principal Ady van der Beek and students called for the speed limit on Maunganui Rd to be dropped to 50kmh fearing it would be only a matter of time before one of his students was struck by a passing vehicle.
Mr van der Beek said his college was one of only two schools in Tauranga to have a 70km/h speed limit right outside and has called for it to be reduced.
He contacted the Bay of Plenty Times with his concerns after widespread national and local publicity encouraging drivers to slow down outside schools.
Mr van der Beek was so concerned that he had even stood on the road and blocked traffic _ which includes logging trucks and vehicles going to Port of Tauranga _ so students could cross safely.
The speed issue has been an ongoing one for the college which over the last five years has contacted Tauranga City Council on more than one occasion voicing its concerns and asking for something to be done.
Limited car parking space for students means many pupils park on the opposite side of the school as do some parents when they wait to pick up their children.
Pedestrians trying to cross Maunganui Rd are forced to share the median barrier with those trying to pull in to the school.