Diesel and hydraulic fluid leaked into the stream feeding the Motu River following a fatal tow truck crash in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Gordon Douglas Nelson, 67, and Frederick Michael Ruff, 70, were killed when the truck crashed 25m down a bank on Takaputahi Road, Toatoa, 36km from the intersection of Old Motu Road and State Highway 35 on Thursday afternoon.

Diesel and hydraulic fluid leaked into the Motu River after a fatal crash in the Eastern Bay on Thursday afternoon. Above: Google maps image of the Motu River.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Pollution Prevention officers were called in to deal with fluid leaking from the crashed vehicle.

Senior pollution prevention officer Adrian Heays says it was dark when the wreck was first discovered, so Regional Council staff left in the early hours of the morning to reach the site by four wheel drive track up the stream.

'They were able to put booms into the stream and remove leaking diesel and fuel with the help of local people who brought drums and assisted with the operation.

'A resident offered the use of his bulldozer and went some distance to find a driver. Once the brakes were unlocked we could tow the truck without gouging the stream bed and get it right out of the water.”

Andy estimates the truck had up to 200 litres of diesel and 200 litres of hydraulic fluid on board, some of which had escaped into the stream before the response team got to the scene.

'The local people who live in the area were amazing and really helped us out, especially Paul Waghorne, Tony Calhoun and Weka who came to drive the bulldozer.

'We wouldn't have been able to complete the job without them.”

The serious crash unit is investigating the crash.