Log left hanging in Whangarei collision

UNSTABLE LOAD: A log was moved forward over the truck cab after a collision with another logging truck. PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM

A log was shunted forward on a logging truck after it collided with another logging truck at a major Whangarei intersection.

The log was left hanging over the top of the truck cab but still secured by the chains following the collision at the intersection of Kamo Rd and Western Hills Dr about 2.30pm on Monday.

Lee Vickers from the Whangarei-based Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit said the southbound truck had been following another logging truck when the driver allegedly failed to stop in time.

It's believed due to the braking and the impact of the collision, the log on the truck unit moved forward.

A member of the public called police who arrived soon after.

The truck was damaged in the collision and police "pink stickered" the vehicle which meant it could not be driven until safe to do so.

Efforts to contact the trucking company for comment were unsuccessful yesterday.

In May 2012 a truck driver was oblivious to two large pine logs falling off a trailer on to State Highway 1. He copped an instant $600 fine for having an insecure load.

The first log, the bigger of the two, fell from the fully laden truck and trailer unit about 150m south of the Portland turn-off. The second smashed on to the road near the Oakleigh Service Station.

Police said if a log had smashed into another vehicle the consequences could have been horrific.

Fortunately, no one was injured.