Driver thrown 15m from truck into Shotover River

A truck driver was thrown from his cab and fell 15m into the Shotover River this morning when his truck and a ute collided on the Shotover Bridge near Queenstown.

Acting Sergeant Simon Dillon, of Queenstown, said the truck driver's door had sheared off in the collision with a trailer being towed by the ute.

The flat deck scaffolding truck crashed into safety barriers and the male driver was thrown into the river, up to 15m below.

He was taken to Lakes District Hospital and then on to Invercargill with broken wrists and other minor injuries.

Two passengers in the truck received minor injuries but the ute driver was not hurt.

Police investigations are continuing.

- NZPA