A man is dead after leaping from a stationary ambulance and running in front of a moving truck in Hawke's Bay.
Inspector Matt Broderick said the man, who was believed to have ingested petrol, was picked up by the ambulance from the Waipukurau police station this afternoon and was being taken to Hawke's Bay Regional Hospital.
The ambulance had stopped on the side of the road near Te Hauke about 4.40pm when the man jumped out the back door and ran across the road and into the path of the truck.
"I understand that he got up from his treatment and disconnected drips and things that were connected to him," Mr Broderick said.
"(He) took them by surprise and took that opportunity to leave the ambulance."
State Highway 2 between Waipawa and Hastings was closed after the incident, and traffic was being diverted along State Highway 50 tonight.
