Rena boat blocks highway

An 18-20foot boat blocked a section of State Highway 2 near the Pukehina turnoff after a 4WD vehicle towing the boat crashed into a bank.

Police called for tow trucks to remove the boat sitting on its side in the middle of the road about 2km south of the Pukehina turnoff.

A Resolve Salvage and Fire inflatable is on its side on SH2 near Pukehina.


Emergency services responded to the call at about 9.50am after the 4WD, with a female driver, towing the boat crashed into a bank.

Pukehina fire chief Errol Watts says it appears the woman, who is uninjured, was driving south towards Whakatane when the boat started fishtailing on her.

'It appears the vehicle has spun right around and the boat has catapulted off the trailer and it's ended up facing in the opposite direction sitting completely across the lane of traffic.

'It is 18-20 foot with two outboard motors and apparently is involved with the Rena salvage.”

Errol says the 4WD has gone over a bank before resting on its side. It is still connected to the trailer, which is also damaged.

'It's on its side and looks like it skidded down the bank and the windows are busted out. I would say she is very lucky as the vehicle has definitely got a fair bit of work to do on it.”

Errol says the next step is to try and get the boat back off its side without damaging the outboard motors.

Do you have photos or information about the incident? Email newsroom@thesun.co.nz or phone 0800 SUNLIVE.

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1 comment

Lost Mummy?

Posted on 23-04-2013 11:04 | By YOGI

Running around looking for its "mother" perhaps?


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