19 Jul 2014

Driver's body found south of Kaikoura

2:46 pm on 19 July 2014

The body of a truck driver who crashed into a ravine near Kaikoura has been found by the police.

Stuart James Barnes, 59, crashed off State Highway 1 near Kaikoura early on Wednesday morning.

His truck plunged about 45 metres down steep terrain in the Hundalees, near the intersection with Claverley Road.

Sergeant Graeme Crosson says Mr Barnes's body was found just after midday on Saturday.

Mr Crosson says a 5 tonne digger removed 35 tonnes of topsoil that fell when Mr Barnes's freight truck crashed. His body was due to be removed from the site on Saturday afternoon.

The truck plunged down a bank off SH1 south of Kaikoura.

The truck plunged down a bank off SH1 south of Kaikoura. Photo: WESTPAC RESCUE CHRISTCHURCH