10 Jun 2010

Tiredness blamed for death of truck driver

2:37 pm on 10 June 2010

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has found tiredness may have contributed to the death of a truck driver whose vehicle collided with a train.

He died after failing to stop at a rail crossing near Orari, between Ashburton and Timaru, in March 2008.

The commission's report says road signage and markings were in good condition and clearly visible.

It says no mechanical issues were found with either the truck or the train and there was nothing to distract the truck driver from seeing the signage.

The commission says a contributing factor may have been some tiredness for the truck driver after working 12 - 13 hour days for four days before the incident.