An elderly man is dead after two trucks collided in Te Kuiti in Waikato this morning.
The crash happened on State Highway 3 near Te Kumi Road, 77km south of Hamilton, at about 10.15am, police said.
The 78-year-old man had suffered "significant injuries" in the crash and was taken to Te Kuiti Hospital, where he died a short time later.
It appeared the man was travelling in a small truck which pulled out of a weigh station and attempted a u-turn but drove into the path of a 31-tonne truck and trailer unit, Te Kuiti sub-area manager Senior Sergeant Rob Van Kalken said.
The smaller truck was pushed several hundred metres down the road.
The driver of the larger truck was shaken but unhurt.
The serious crash unit and commercial vehicle investigators were at the scene.
The man's death had been referred to the coroner, Mr Van Kalken said.
Diversions were signposted and were expected to be in place for several hours.
