A railway worker killed this morning at Ohinewai, north of Huntly, was pushed under the wheels of a freight train, police say.
The 25-year-old Hamilton man was working on a wagon when he was struck by a crane boom, Senior Sergeant Pete Simpson said.
The crane was beingused to lift unused rails and load them onto a work carriage.
"A northbound freight train went past the work train and collected a boom of the gantry and as a result, the boom swung around and has hit the deceased."
This pushed the man under the wheels of the freight train.
The man's name would be released once next-of-kin had been informed, Mr Simpson said.
Ontrack spokesman Kevin Ramshaw said earlier that Land Transport New Zealand, the Transport Accident Investigation Commission and Labour Department had been informed.
