The logging truck which crashed on Otaika Valley Road was removed by a crane. Photo / John Stone
The busy route used by trucks heading to North Port was closed from 10am until 4pm, forcing all heavy traffic to use State Highway 14 through Maunu and back on to State Highway 1.
Other vehicles were still able to use Cemetery Rd on to the lower section of Otaika Valley Rd.
A crane removes the logging truck that crashed on Otaika Valley Rd. Photo / John Stone
Truck owner Stan Semenoff was roadside yesterday watching the rig being lifted from the bush on to the back of a waiting trailer.
He said the retrieval of the rig was held off until yesterday when better weather was forecast.
"There was no use doing it in the rain and dark the day before and putting people's lives at risk."
As the truck unit was lifted from the native bush and gently lowered on to the road, Mr Semenoff had completed a visual inspection and had decided the rig was not worth repairing but would be covered by insurance.
He said the driver had just finished driver training and the trip from Pouto to North Port had been one of his first alone without a trainer in the cab.
The truck unit and trailer were removed, as were the pine logs which were to be delivered to their intended destination.
Mr Semenoff said police had helped make yesterday's operation run smoothly.
Northland police Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit Sergeant Phil Halton said the truck driver had been interviewed and it was likely he would be charged.
A specialist mechanic would inspect the truck and trailer to see if any mechanical faults had contributed to the crash, Mr Halton said.
The operation had taken longer then anticipated after the logs ended up further down the bank in the bush.
An initial police assessment was the driver had braked during a sudden heavy downpour which caused the truck to slide across the road and flip down the bank.
While this is the first incident for some time, there have been many similar log truck crashes on Otaika Valley Rd in recent years.
