The Coroner’s Court has released findings into the death of truck driver Alfred “Wana” Walker, who died in a crash on State Highway 1 at the Bremner Road overbridge in Drury in June 2023.
Walker, 69, was a loved husband, father and papa to his many mokopuna.
The coroner ruled the crash was caused by a front tyre blowout. A Serious Crash Unit investigator found that the type of tyre fitted to the truck’s front steering axle may have contributed to the failure.
While the tyre was legal, it was not necessarily fit for purpose, it found.
“Ultimately the SCU investigators concluded that while it cannot be determined with certainty what caused the tyre failure, a likely contributing factor was the use of tyres that were not designed for prolonged and frequent low speed turns and manoeuvres on aggressive off-road surfaces.
“Although the tyre was legal, it is likely that the tyre suffered damage at some point while operating on these surfaces. This led to the tyre failing, (blowing out) prior to the tread depleting to the point that the tyre needed to be replaced.”
The Coroner considered and endorsed recommendations from the SCU investigator, including:
- “that operators of heavy motor vehicles who have fleets that regularly enter quarries, landfills, and other off-road sites, carefully choose tyres that have characteristics which match, at least partly, with off-road usage. This is especially important for trucks fitted with super single tyres on a single steer axle.”
- “that heavy vehicle tyre servicing companies strongly recommend and fit tyres that have characteristics which match with the usage of the truck. This is especially important for trucks fitted with super single tyres on a single steer axle.”
- “that increased training and awareness be provided to the drivers of heavy trucks around the dangers of front tyre blowouts on single steer axle trucks, especially those operating with super single tyres.”
The SCU also recommended that “quarries, landfills, and other off-road sites which are regularly visited by on-road heavy motor vehicles, attempt, as much as possible, to reduce the use of sharp-edged aggregates on access roads throughout their sites.”
The Coroner said the case should serve as a reminder “of the importance of not only having tyres that meet the legal requirements but also ensuring they are appropriate for the type of road surface and haulage they will be used for.”
The NZ Trucking Association says the findings are being shared to the industry to prevent it from happening again.
“The NZ Trucking Association would like to take this opportunity to extend our condolences to Wana’s whānau and friends for their very tragic loss of their loved husband, father and papa.”
The National Road Carriers Association (NRC) also shared the findings with its members.
“The crash and drivers’ death are a reminder to the road transport industry of the importance of not only having tyres that meet the legal requirements but also ensuring they are appropriate for the type of road surface and haulage they will be used for.
“The recommendations are made in the hope that greater awareness of the importance of fitting tyres that are fit for purpose will prevent further deaths occurring in similar circumstances.”
