It was like something out of a movie - logs pouring off a toppled trailer and flying towards his windscreen in slow motion.

That's how Casey Church described the scene that unfolded in front of him on the highway between Rotorua and Taupō on Monday morning.

A logging truck crashed on State Highway 5 north of Reporoa, sending it's load across the highway and into the path of Church's ute.

"It was pretty freaky - like something out of a movie but in slow-mo."

The 28-year-old territory marketing manager was heading to work in Gisborne mid-morning when the oncoming logging truck began to swerve.

"The truck coming towards me lost control and the trailer slipped, and the logs have begun flying towards me."

Church began dodging the logs as they rolled from the crashed trailer.

"I was literally dodging logs flying towards me.

"I swerved, saw the logs and then I saw a sign and fence - I swerved for the sign and went off the road."

Although Church escaped the impact, the loose logs struck the front and side of the ute travelling behind him, leaving the woman driver injured.

She was bloodied with cuts and possible broken bones.

"She was hysterical so I called her boyfriend. Her truck was demolished."

The woman was taken to Taupō Hospital in a moderate condition.

He said the truck came to a stop down the road, having taken out the powerlines.

Church, who was just shaken by the crash, decided to take the rest of the day off work.

Logs littered the highway, blocking both lanes for several hours after the crash.

Two fire crews were at the crash site where a logging truck and ute crashed, says Fire and Emergency northern communications shift manager Craig Dally.

Police were speaking with the driver of the truck.

-Stuff.co.nz/Philipa Yalden.