Truck driver dies in Bay of Plenty crash

6:43 pm on 24 April 2017

A man has died after his truck and trailer, which was transporting hazardous substances, went over a bank in Bay of Plenty.

Police said they were called to State Highway 36 between Pyes Pa Rd and Te Matai Rd, near Tauranga, about 1.30pm.

The driver was a 63-year old man from Rotorua.

SH36 was expected to be closed overnight, they said.

Diversions were in place at the north end of Pyes Pa Rd near Te Matai Rd and at the south end of Pyes Pa Rd near Dudley Rd.

Police said there was a 250m cordon around the site due to the nature of the truck's cargo, and Environmental Protection Agency officials were at the scene.

The Serious Crash Unit was investigating.