Another log truck crash 'up north'

Houhora's resident police officer, Senior Constable Tracee Knowler, began expressing concerns about the manner in which some log trucks were being driven on the Aupouri Peninsula less than three weeks ago. Two days later a truck and trailer crashed off SH1 north of Waiharara, and on Thursday morning there was another, very similar crash, immediately south of the Houhora Tavern.

The Mangonui Haulage driver was trapped in the cab of his truck by his feet with the steering wheel against his chest until a Kaitaia Fire Brigade crew cut him out. A digger was used to brace and lift the cab so they could complete the job, at around 9.30am, two hours after the crash occurred.

The driver was flown to Whangarei Hospital by rescue helicopter with what at the time were believed to be serious injuries, but were later described as moderate, including a small head injury, a broken rib and lacerations.

The Northland Age understands that the same driver suffered a broken neck in a log truck crash some years ago.

Thursday's crash began with the fully-laden trailer apparently drifting off the left-hand side of the seal as the truck headed south. According to witnesses the trailer subsequently rolled on to its side, the truck dragging it across both lanes and crashing into a bank.

Logs were strewn over both lanes, others crashing through a farm fence into a paddock and several smashing a porch support of what was once the Houhora Post Office, and is now a private residence. No one was at home there when the Northland Age arrived.

Meanwhile both the truck and trailer were driven to Kaitaia, where they underwent a mechanical examination, while the Serious Crash Unit from Whangarei was called to examine the scene and to determine what happened. Senior Constable Knowler said no other vehicles were believed to have been involved, and the cause of the crash wasn't clear.

Witnesses told the Northland Age that they had seen the truck approaching the right-hand bend where the driver lost control, and had had no concerns about the speed he was driving at or the line he was taking.

The crash further fuelled Senior Constable Knowler's concerns regarding log trucks on the Aupouri Peninsula, however.

"We've had two [crashes] in two weeks, and it's sheer luck that neither driver was seriously hurt, and that no one else was hurt or killed," she said.

Traffic was able to continue moving north and south while emergency services tended to the driver, albeit via a single lane, but log trucks could not get past, and there was a substantial queue of them by the time the scene was cleared. Both lanes were closed for about 25 minutes while the cab was lifted.