Auckland motorway digger crash: Driver excused from court appearance

A truck carrying a digger collided with the Penrose Rd overpass on the southbound lanes of Auckland's Southern Motorway, blocking traffic. Photo / Nick Reed

The truck driver accused of ploughing his truck into a motorway overbridge, causing hours of gridlock in Auckland, was excused from appearing in court today.

Taupo man Graham John Kennett, 65, was charged with dangerous driving after the incident last month.

He had allegedly been driving a truck with a digger on the back when it smashed into the overbridge in Penrose

Kennett was due to appear in Auckland District Court today. His attendance was excused and his lawyer appeared on his behalf.

He was remanded without plea to appear on May 28.

The dangerous driving charge has a maximum disqualification period from driving of 6 months.

It is also punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to three months and a fine of up to $4500.

The accident happened on May 9 at about 1.15pm when the arm of the digger struck the overbridge, causing the digger to be knocked off its trailer on to two of the three southbound lanes of the Southern Motorway.

Police earlier confirmed that the load was over-height and witnesses have described seeing the high-visibility LED early warning signs activate as the truck approached the bridge.