Rockfall in New Zealand's road: One driver dead

A rock boulder detached from a slope near a road hitting a car and killing its driver in New Zealand.

The incident occurred at about 1:50 pm local time on November 13, 2019, in the State Highway 6. The highway is located in the Tasman region of New Zealand's South Island. 

The exact location of the collision was 800 meters away from O'Sullivans Bridge. There were two people inside the car. The driver, a 59-year-old man from Canterbury, died instantly due to the collision while the other passenger survived suffering only minor injuries, according to the police. "It appears a rock has come loose from the rock face, smashed through the windscreen, killing the driver instantly," Sergeant David Lauer, stated.

State Highway 6 will remain closed until the afternoon of Friday, November 15, and drivers were warned to avoid the region.

The causes of the rockfall will be investigated. Similar failures are likely to re-occur on Thursday as the region will be struck by rainfalls according to the weather forecast. New Zealand Transport Agency stated that specialized workers will remove unstable rock boulders from the slopes on Friday. A team of geotechnical engineers will also be employed to evaluate the vulnerability of the road.

“More rain is forecast for tonight so we will need to work on the slopes tomorrow. The aim will be to open the highway by 5pm, but motorists are advised to check the NZTA website for the latest updates,” Andrew James, New Zealand Transport Agency System Manager, stated.

Officials warned people that there is no efficient detour in the area so they may need to postpone their travels.

Rockfall incidents are common in New Zealand. In August 2019, a large rockfall triggered by heavy rains closed State Highway 6 between Haast and Makaora. In May 2018, State Highway 1 was also closed and traffic issues emerged after another rockfall struck between Clarence and Mangamaunu regions.