Trucker whose digger hit bridge pleads not guilty to dangerous driving charge

The digger hit the Southern Motorway overbridge last month. Photo / Nick Reed

The truck driver accused of ploughing his truck into a motorway overbridge, causing traffic chaos in Auckland, has denied driving dangerously.

Taupo man Graham John Kennett, 65, was charged after last month's crash.

His lawyer Bridget Lawler told the Auckland District Court today that a lot of information requested from the New Zealand Transport Agency had not yet been provided.

Kennett was allegedly driving a truck with a digger on the back when it smashed into the overbridge in Penrose, causing traffic bedlam around the city.

The crash happened on May 9 at about 1.15pm when the arm of the digger struck the overbridge, knocking the digger off its trailer onto 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.

The dangerous driving charge has a maximum driving ban of six months and can be punishable by up to three months in jail and a fine as high as $4500.

Kennett pleaded not guilty and will be back in court in September.

He refused to comment.

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