Police at the scene of this afternoon’s fatal crash on SH73 in the Otira Gorge said the accident happened in exactly the same spot as a fatal truck crash last year.

Senior Sergeant Allyson Ealam said it appeared the driver had lost control on a bend coming down the hill and the truck had tipped on its side before crashing through the safety barrier and plunging down a sheer face.

She said the weather conditions at the time of the crash were good and the road was sealed.

All three occupants of the hire truck were of men of Chinese descent.