Truck driver killed in horrific smash

A Tokoroa truck driver is dead after a horrific accident near Taupo which saw debris strewn 100m across the highway.

The logging truck driver was travelling towards Taupo on State Highway 5 near Palmer Mill Rd when he lost control coming down a hill about midday yesterday.

The trailer of the truck, which was fully laden with logs, came away from the cab and stopped about 50m away, slamming into a tree on the side of the road.

Logs were strewn about 150m along the highway.

Sergeant Dave Frazer said it was too early to say what caused the driver to crash. No other vehicles were involved. He said it was raining at the time.

Emergency services were at the scene of the accident for about four hours and traffic was diverted.

Taupo St John area manager Graeme Harvey said ambulance and fire staff needed to use bolt cutters to access the man - which took nearly 10 minutes.

"It looked like quite a horrific [accident] where the man veered and hit a bank on the left and the rest of the truck has carried on and crashed into the thick trees."

Taupo Fire Service station officer Graeme Trainor said with A1GP coming up people needed to remember to drive carefully.

The man's death will be referred to the Taupo coroner.

Meanwhile, a campervan was hit from behind by another vehicle causing it to spin and tip over into the driveway of Hell's Gate, on State Highway 30.

The English tourists were heading down Tikitere Hill towards Rotorua about 10.30am when they went to turn right into the tourist attraction.

Constable Sam Shiels of the Rotorua police Strategic Traffic Unit said a Toyota 4x4 tried to overtake the campervan and crashed into the rear driver's side.

Ms Shiels said although the inside of the campervan was a mess, no one in either vehicle was injured. Ms Shiels said charges were likely.





Police also attended a crash at the southern entrance to Rotorua near Whakarewarewa after a driver skidded in the wet conditions and crashed into bushes. The driver wasn't hurt.

Four people received minor injuries when the car they were in rolled in wet conditions on the Napier/Taupo highway about 11am yesterday. The crash happened at Opepe, about 20km east of Taupo.