Truck accident on State Highway 14 near Maungatapere caused by mechanical failure

The trailer of a logging truck ended up in a ditch after a mechanincal fault. Photo/Michael Cunningham

A mechanical failure sent a logging truck's trailer skidding into a ditch, disrupting traffic on the morning commute between Dargaville and Whangarei.

The accident happened on State Highway 14 near the intersection with Tatton Rd at about 6.55am yesterday.

Senior Constable John van Pomeren said the truck was heading east when the brakes for the trailer locked and caused it to skid around and go off the road and into a ditch.

Mr Van Pomeren said for some reason the jackshaft between the two rear axles on the truck came away. He said it "flew" out, and chopped a couple of air lines which caused the trailer's brakes to lock on.

The jackshaft which came free and landed on the road. Photo/Michael Cunningham

"It couldn't have happened at a worse spot at a worse time."

At that time of the morning, plenty of traffic was heading towards Whangarei.

He said it happened on a blind corner and there were "a few near misses until traffic control showed up".

The road was reduced to one lane and controlled by stop/go signs.

The driver of the truck was uninjured. His truck was carrying waste wood, which is chipped at Marasumi.

On Monday, a truck went off the road in almost the same spot about 3pm.

That truck was heading west towards Dargaville when it clipped a sign on the side of the road and headed off the side of the road before hitting a culvert and coming back across the road and into the bank on the opposite side of the road.

The driver managed to free himself from the truck's cab. St John tweeted one person was taken to Whangarei Hospital with moderate injuries.

Meanwhile, a person received moderate injuries after a car left the road about 8.30am yesterday at Towai.