Road closes after harvester and truck collide

A crash between a grape harvester and a truck and trailer closed Pakowhai Rd in Hastings yesterday morning.

Senior constable Jason Spence said both vehicles were travelling towards Hastings when the two vehicles crashed at 9.35am.

The harvester was being overtaken by the truck at the time and collided with the truck's trailer, full of empty apple bins.

The impact spun the Pellenc harvester on to its side, blocking the road.

The harvester driver climbed down from his cab and was taken to hospital for observation. St John's Heretaunga territory manager Brendon Hutchinson said the harvester driver was taken to Hawke's Bay hospital with minor to moderate injuries.

The truck driver pulled over past the Richmond Rd intersection with several bins, and the trailer frame that held them in place, destroyed.

"It is one of those unfortunate incidents," the truck driver said.

"I haven't seen his indicator because of the cars in front of me."

A crane was required to recover the harvester.