UPDATED: A man in his 40's is in a critical condition in Tauranga Hospital after being struck by a logging truck on Takitimu Drive this morning.
Western Bay road policing acting senior sergeant Trinity Milham says they're yet to establish why the man was on the section of State Highway 2 between Dive Crescent and Chapel Street when he was struck shortly before 4.45am.
'The truck was an unladen double stack logging truck that had been travelling toward Tauranga from Mount Maunganui when the pedestrian was struck,” explains Trinity.
'It is very early on in our investigation and officers are trying to establish why the man was on the expressway in the first place.”
Trinity is appealing to anyone who witnessed this morning's incident to contact the Tauranga Police Station.
St John Ambulance central region communications manager Mark Tregoweth says staff were alerted to the incident at 4.44am and arrived at the scene less than 10 minutes later.
The man has sustained status one injuries as a result of the incident and was transported to Tauranga Hospital in a critical condition at 5.15am, says Mark.
The city bound lanes of the Tauranga Harbour Bridge were closed for several hours following the accident, causing major delays for motorists this morning.
Traffic had been diverted onto Dive Crescent with traffic entering the CBD area via The Strand.
If you witnessed or have any information about this morning's crash contact the Tauranga Police Station on 07-577-4300.
EARLIER:
UPDATED: Diversions on Takitimu Drive between Dive Crescent and Chapel Street have now been lifted.
The section was closed for several hours after a pedestrian was hit by a truck shortly before 5am.
The pedestirain suffered serious to critical injuries and has been transported to hospital for further treatment.
EARLIER:
A section of Takitimu Drive between Dive Crescent and Chapel Street is closed after a pedestrian was hit by a truck early this morning.
Police say the collision happened in the westbound lanes on Takitimu Drive just before 5am.
The NZ Transport Agency says the road is expected to be closed for some time which will have a major impact on traffic in Tauranga this morning.
The closure will affect westbound traffic travelling into the city from Papamoa and Mount Maunganui along Hewletts Road. This traffic is being detoured onto Dive Crescent and will enter the CBD area via The Strand.
Traffic is already backing up and the agency urges motorists to consider delaying their travel if and where possible.
Eastbound traffic is said to be unaffected.
More info to come.
5 comments
And just what
Posted on 18-03-2016 07:39 | By Devils-advocate
Was a pedestrian doing on the flyover anyway? No doubt the usual suspects will be here criticising the truck driver.
Idiots
Posted on 18-03-2016 08:54 | By Kenworthlogger
The lane is for vehicles not pedestrians....
Sheesh
Posted on 18-03-2016 11:19 | By bubbles
Id hate to be that Truck Driver! Saw the Truck this morning on the way to work. Why would anyone walk along a flyover in the dark at 4 in the morning? Maybe a few too many beersies? Hope that Truck driver is okay. Gotta be pretty traumatc.
here we go again
Posted on 19-03-2016 12:40 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
This is tragic for the Driver concerned hope he will get over this,it is not your fault, it could have been anyone ,car or truck ,but it was you,This is different hitting Big Red ROOS on the way to PERTH at night,have no enamel on my teeth now from grinding waiting for the next one, sometimes 3-4 a night, get use to it,but a human being on the road at night is a DEATH wish,be CAREFUL OUT THERE agree with kenworth logger Teddy Bear signing off now 10-4 and goodbye,Thankyou SunLive NO1 in the Bay
Old trucker
Posted on 19-03-2016 19:06 | By Old
What ever you smoke it must be GOOD STUFF. Rest olddddddd timer.
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