UPDATED: State Highway 2, near Te Puna, is fully open after a ute had flipped blocking the highway this morning.
Emergency services were called to the crash between a ute and truck just before 8am.
A woman who witnessed the crash says it has to be one of the most horrific crashes she has seen in her life.
"The ute was travelling along the highway and hit a truck pulling out onto the road. The truck had no time to stop.
"The ute, which was towing a trailer, flipped and is blocking the highway."
There were no injuries reported in the crash and the NZ Transport Agency says the highway is no open.
Police are investigating the cause of the crash.
EARLIER:
A ute has flipped after crashing with a truck on State Highway 2, north of Te Puna.
A caller to the 0800 SUNLIVE news hotline says a ute has flipped and is blocking a lane.
The woman witnessed the crash and says it has to be one of the most horrific crashes she has seen in her life.
"The ute was travelling along the highway and hit a truck pulling out onto the road. The truck had no time to stop.
"The ute, which was towing a trailer, flipped and is blocking the highway."
The woman, who did not want to be named, says she heard a screech as brakes were slapped on then a big bang as the ute and truck collided.
Everyone is out of the vehicle and walking around, says the caller. There appear to be no serious injuries.
The crash has blocked one lane of the highway and motorists are advised to avoid the area is possible or expect delays until the scene is cleared.
8 comments
overloaded
Posted on 09-11-2016 10:02 | By righto
Look at the load on a single axle trailer it had on 3mowers but wait its rated to tow 3 ton where is the compliance on wof vehicles ????
Not overloaded
Posted on 09-11-2016 11:38 | By Draginz
Those mowers weigh way less than 500kg each, so this trailer was not overloaded. Depending on where the mowers were located on the trailer, they may have caused imbalance (too much or not enough loading on the tow bar), which can lead to jackknifing, but you can't jump to conclusions about the accident itself!
.
Posted on 09-11-2016 12:46 | By whatsinaname
Agree righto
@ righto
Posted on 09-11-2016 13:51 | By BennyBenson
Are you trying to imply the utes trailer was overloaded thus contributing to this accident? Ride-on mowers weigh about 250-350kg each..maybe it had more to do with the fact a truck pulled out in front of it..you know like the article said.
Draginz
Posted on 09-11-2016 13:54 | By Kenworthlogger
I think Righto is trying to say that due to the single axel it is probably over its axel weight..
Benny Benson
Posted on 09-11-2016 16:05 | By Kenworthlogger
It is possible to be underweight overall but be overweight on the axels or in this case axel which will effect stopping ability or breaking... Depends on how the load is distributed on the trailer.
Not over loaded
Posted on 09-11-2016 19:06 | By bigjim
Without looking up the exact weights the three mowers weighed in between 700kg and 750kg in total, that is a car trailer rated for much more, it was loaded evenly, the Navara is rated 2250kg.The truck pulled out of Te Puna Quarry road directly in front of the loaded ute travelling along SH2 which didn't have a hope in hell of stopping and was traveling below the speed limit having just come up the hill. Blame lies entirely with the truck which pulled out of the side road.
here we go again
Posted on 10-11-2016 09:00 | By old trucker
Funny how all the experts come out when things like this happen,nothing to do with the mowers on the back, for gosh sake, if some thing pulls out of a side road in front of you,its all over bar the yelling out,agree with Bigjim,it does rest on the truck pulling out,nothing in the news about that bit,my tuppence worth,No1 in the Bay Thankyou,10-4 out.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.