A woman died in a head-on smash between the people-mover she
was driving and an articulated truck in Ormond township early
this morning.
Police, the fire service and St John ambulance were called to
the accident site on State Highway 2 at 12.40am.
"The accident happened about 200 metres north of the Ormond
Tavern on a straight stretch of road," a fire service
spokesman said.
The 32-year-old Gisborne woman, the only occupant in the
people mover, was pronounced dead at the scene by a St John
paramedic.
Police serious crash investigators were investigating the
accident.
"No further details are being released on her identity at
this stage, as we are still in the process of informing all
her next-of-kin."
The highway was closed for more than three hours and
diversions were put in place.
When emergency services arrived, the woman's vehicle was on
one side of the highway and the truck, tipped on its side,
was on the other.
The truck driver escaped injury.
"He was shaking and in mild shock but he was otherwise OK,"
the fire spokesman said.
The truck driver was checked over by St John staff.
Nearby resident Greyson Mauheni was awake in bed when the
accident occurred.
"It happened pretty much right outside my bedroom window," he
said.
"I heard a big bang and looked out to see the truck had slid
along the road on its side.
"I ran over to it to check on the driver. He was in a bit of
shock but otherwise was OK," Mr Mauheni said.
Another person checked on the other vehicle.
"There was a strong smell of petrol and we decided not to go
too close. We were concerned it could catch fire but it
didn't," Mr Mauheni said.
"The sight of it was quite shocking, knowing there was a
person inside."
The refrigerated truck was carrying a load of empty milk
crates from Gisborne to Te Puke. The load remained secure in
the vehicle in the rollover.
The front of the people-mover was extensively damaged.
The woman's body remained in her vehicle for about three
hours, until police had completed their scene examination.
Firemen then removed the woman from the wreckage.
"We had to cut away one side of the vehicle and remove the
passenger seat to get her out."
Police said a post-mortem examination would be conducted.
- Gisborne Herald
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