Police hope inquiry will bear fruit (update)

Police are investigating what caused a truck and trailer to tip, spilling hundreds of apples across State Highway 2 south of Hastings about 7.30pm on Wednesday night.

The truck, operated by Stephens Transport, was carrying cargo for the Mr Apple fruit produce company, which managed a number of orchards in Central Hawke's Bay.

Otane fire chief John Oliver said the driver of the truck was not hurt.

Fire volunteers and police staff had to manage road diversions near College Rd until 1.45am.

There were delays in clearing the road as heavy traffic equipment had to be called in from Palmerston North to right the truck and work was done to clear cartons of apples off the road.

Mr Oliver said the truck and trailer had an open roof causing the apples to spill across both lanes when it tipped on to its side.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash. Heavy rain following the crash made work for fire and police staff difficult.

Waipukurau police senior sergeant Ross Gilbert said wet conditions may have been a factor in the accident.

State Highway 2 between Hastings and Waipukurau has been the scene of two previous crashes involving trucks this year.

A Toll Tranzlink truck on a midnight run travelling from Palmerston North to the company's Hastings depot spilled its load of seed and food products across State Highway 2, near Otane, when its trailer unit tipped over about 3.30am in March.

And in February, a truck jack knifed while travelling north on State Highway 2, down Te Aute hill, towards Hastings.

There was no evidence to suggest the incidents were linked, Mr Gilbert said.

"We have had four heavy vehicle accidents here in very recent times and three of them have involved roll overs of trailers, but the causes are all quite different."