Body found at crash scene
The body of a man has been found in the Waihohonu Stream during the recovery
of a truck and trailer which crashed on SH1 Desert Road early this morning.
The discovery was made as the cab of the truck which was partially submerged
was lifted from the water using a crane. The body was located in the water
beneath the vehicle and is believed to be that of the driver.
Police can confirm that the driver is a 50-year-old man from Porirua but his
name is not expected to be released until tomorrow once Police have confirmed
that all family have been notified.
Police will be recovering the truck for examination and SH1 is expected to
re-open later this evening.
There will be no further comment this evening.
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Earlier story: Firefighters have left the scene of a truck crash in the central North Island this afternoon, where it is believed none of the chemicals it had been carrying have leaked into the waterway.
Environment Waikato has taken over responsibility for retrieving the hazardous chemicals involved in the crash into Waihohonu Stream, off State Highway 1 between Waiouru and Turangi this morning.
The driver of the truck is still unaccounted for.
"We have worked closely with Environment Waikato and it appears as though none of the chemicals have leaked into the waterway,'' Fire Service Assistant Area Commander Nigel Richards said.
"Contractors are now working with Environment Waikato and the police to clean up the site and retrieve the containers that fell into the Waihohonu Stream.''
Emergency services were called to the scene outside Tongariro National Park about 4.22am after the B-train truck plunged into the stream.
It was originally feared there were radioactive substances on board but none were found.
"We've gone through the manifest, and the company as well, and it's confirmed that [the truck] was carrying no radioactive substance,'' Fire Service northern communications shift manager Jaron Phillips said.
The truck's spilled cargo forced the closure of the Desert Rd and the nearby Rangipo power station while emergency services searched for the missing driver.
Mr Phillips said the truck contained aerosol containers and was also believed to contain an environmentally hazardous insecticide called alpha-cypermethrin.
Mr Richards said the truck and trailer unit had been carrying more than 45 tonnes of general cargo as well as three 50kg containers of swimming pool cleaner and twelve 1200ml containers of another potentially harmful chemical.
Numerous organisations responded to the incident, including the local council, police, the Fire Service hazardous materials unit and the National Radiation Laboratory.
Police said SH1 would remain closed for a considerable time and diversions were in place.
Genesis Energy spokesman Richard Gordon said the Rangipo Power Station had been closed as a result of the crash.
The 120 megawatt power station, which generates enough electricity to power about 100,000 homes, turned off its turbines about 7.30am.
Mr Gordon said it was unclear when the power station could reopen.
A police spokeswoman said it was not clear what had happened to the driver.
"It's unclear whether he's in the stream or the wreckage of the truck,'' she said.
"It's a difficult and challenging scene down there at the moment, and at this stage we haven't located him.''
of a truck and trailer which crashed on SH1 Desert Road early this morning.
The discovery was made as the cab of the truck which was partially submerged
was lifted from the water using a crane. The body was located in the water
beneath the vehicle and is believed to be that of the driver.
Police can confirm that the driver is a 50-year-old man from Porirua but his
name is not expected to be released until tomorrow once Police have confirmed
that all family have been notified.
Police will be recovering the truck for examination and SH1 is expected to
re-open later this evening.
