Man dies when hit by rolling truck

Police are investigating a "tragic incident" in which a 62-year-old pedestrian was crushed by a runaway truck at Company Bay, Dunedin.

Acting Senior Sergeant Chris McLellan, of Dunedin, said investigations were continuing to establish the full details of the incident which happened about 8am on Saturday.

He said a driverless heavy earthmoving truck belonging to Steve Clearwater Contracting had rolled forward, "striking the gentleman and coming to rest on the second [truck]".

In a statement, a family member named the man as Stanley Eric Turner, known as Stan, who was a maths and physics teacher at University of Otago Foundation Studies.

Mr Turner is survived by his wife Anne and son Andrew.

"The family would like to make known that their heart goes out to the men involved in the accident, and hold no misgivings towards them," the family statement said.

Acting Sen Sgt McLellan said everyone involved, including witnesses, had been shaken by this "terribly tragic incident" and Victim Support had been brought in to help.

Steve Clearwater said his company's thoughts were with the victim's family, and confirmed the truck drivers were being counselled.

The trucks had been involved in work to develop a nearby section and the man had earlier been at the section talking to a digger driver who was working there.

The deceased had then been walking down the hill on Luss Rd when the incident happened, he said.

After the first truck had struck the second, the second truck in turn had hit a parked four-wheel drive vehicle, police said.

Inquiries would include trying to determine why the truck had moved forward.

Mr Clearwater said the truck was being tested to check if there was a problem with its brakes.

Investigations would also be undertaken on behalf of the coroner, he said.

An Alexandra-based serious crash investigator had been called in, and the Commercial Vehicle Inspection Unit was also involved, police said.

The steep, narrow road was cordoned off by police throughout much of Saturday while investigations continued.

The trucks were removed about 4pm on Saturday.

• A 28-year-old man, Luke Porter-Graham, of Bulls, killed when his car hit a tree in Manawatu early on Saturday was one of two men to die on the roads this weekend.

Later on Saturday, a 41-year-old man died instantly when his motorcycle and a six-tonne truck collided near Awatoto, on the outskirts of Napier, about 12.30pm.