Do they not teach drivers not to cross the center line for any reason unless its clear to do so
crankypants69,
Feb 26, 3:15pm
I'm guessing it was an instant reaction before they even had time to think
brapbrap8,
Feb 26, 3:26pm
Possibly not enough following distance either if he had to swerve without thinking to avoid an obstacle falling off the truck in front.
kazbanz,
Feb 26, 3:37pm
Its pretty easy to sit there after the fact. But even a chunk of 3x2 hurtling towards you is going to make you swerve
skin1235,
Feb 26, 3:49pm
being that in all cases of a death on the road there has to be charges laid - unless it is a single vehicle accident - you have to wonder who is going to cop it over this one the young fella won't but as mentioned may have been far too close - in hindsight should have been 100 mts further back, the one on his side in the drain? or the one with an unsecured load - and yep a short piece of 3x2 dunnage falling off is deemed an unsecured load, even if it has worked its way out from under a secured load and finally slipped over the side perhaps if he had gone to the other side he would have slid along the drain, and stepped out when it came to rest can't rewind the clock though
either way at least 3 families are suffering, and will continue to suffer for a long time
skin1235,
Feb 26, 3:59pm
has anybody heard what it was that fell off the truck, unlikely to be anything from a curtainsider, and assume the young fella was unsighted re the oncoming so he wasn't behind a uteload of firewood, got to hope he wasn't behind say a logging truck and swerved to avoid a bit of bark, or a lump of mud dropping off the under guards as they do, both could have been driven over without risk no doubt we will hear soon just what it was
snoopy221,
Feb 26, 4:06pm
End of the day tis another section of the saga of overseas drivers and possibly pulling right instead of kiwi drivers pulling left when the proverbial sh. happens porta loo fell off in front of vehicle.
A driver has died in a head-on crash after he swerved to avoid a portable toilet that fell from a truck in front of him.
The driver, who is believed to be a tourist and was aged in his early 20s, died after crashing into an oncoming truck and trailer on State Highway 2 in the Western Bay of Plenty, police said.
The crash happened about 5.30pm yesterday, just north of the junction with Omokoroa Rd.
Police said the driver swerved onto the wrong side of the road to avoid a portable toilet that had fallen from a truck ahead of him.
The collision caused the truck and trailer to roll onto its side and into a ditch.
The truck driver was shaken but not injured, police said.
The crash caused long traffic delays while the vehicles cleared.
The police serious crash unit is investigating.
nightboss,
Feb 26, 4:18pm
Many years ago (about 1986) I was following behind a concrete mixer truck on the Auckland Harbour Bridge, the driver suddenly swerved to avoid a large piece of wood (approx 200mmx200mm x 500mm).
As he swerved back to his lane the load must have slopped around and the left wheels lifted, then the right wheels lifted, then the left, then over on it's side.
In just a couple of seconds he went from full control, fighting for control, to being on his side. Amazingly he got out unharmed and did not collect and other drivers either.
All caused by another vehicles insecure load.
My sympathies go to the family of the young guy that this thread is about. And to the drivers of the two trucks involved, one that could do nothing, the other that will be wishing he had done more.
brapbrap8,
Feb 26, 4:38pm
Hitting a portaloo isn't gonna kill you, will dent your car pretty good though. Far preferable to hitting an oncoming truck. He should have been able to stop in under 35m from 90km/h.
tamarillo,
Feb 26, 5:06pm
Agree, in theory should be far enough back that he could have had more time to brake enough to miss or at least reduce impact of toilet, or at least assess situation more carefully before avoiding. Exception might be if he had closed up ha a bit to be ready to overtake, but rather doubt that to be case if truck was coming other way. Bike riding teaches me to think defensive.
i wish people would read the whole article before they spout on about following distancesYup he was a french national that had been living her since late last year so what? how about having a go at the truckie and unsecured load
skin1235,
Feb 26, 10:47pm
early reports were he was following a truck this portapottie was dropped right in front of him by a truck on the other side of the road - traveling the other way
he lost control after avoiding the portaloo what a shit of a way to go
scuba,
Feb 26, 11:01pm
+ 1 lot of people making assumptions after not reading the full story. he wasn't following the truck and nowhere does it say he deliberately crossed the centerline.
tamarillo,
Feb 26, 11:12pm
Agree unsecured load is very very bad and must be prosecuted. ill fess up to not having noticed that the loo fell from a truck going other way, so my comments about closeness to truck WERE WRONG. Thanks for correcting. When things happen that quickly it's not fair of us to pass judgement on drivers reactions. In retrospect would have been better to stay in lane, but we're fallable beings and immediate reaction, unless highly trained, are fickle. Very very sad. May his God be with him and his loved ones.m
stevo2,
Feb 27, 12:51am
A mate of mines wife many years ago was following a truck that lost a 44 gallon drum of oil (or tar?) off the back. She didnt change lanes and it took the top of her head off. Same outcome
urbanrefugee54,
Feb 27, 1:30am
there was the young bloke down southland that had something? [they still don't know what it was] go through the front windscreen & out the back that killed him.
alas it wasn't exactly the swerving to avoid the portaloo - it was losing control of the vehicle when he did swerve. deepest condolences to his family & to the driver of the truck.
that kind of sudden movement isnt something you normally experience
to be caught out by it can happen to most speed abiding drivers
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