A 68-year-old tourist has been crushed to death in a horrific sandboarding accident in Northland.
As the South Korean man slid down the Te Paki sand dunes on Monday, he was run over by a tour bus driver who apparently failed to see him.
The incident was witnessed by the deceased's traumatised family, including his wife, son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter, the Northland Age reports.
"Police were called about 1:40pm yesterday afternoon to an incident at the Te Paki Sand Dunes, near Te Paki Stream Road," says Northland Road Policing Manager Inspector Wayne Ewers.
"The man had been on a tour bus with his family and was boarding down a dune towards the stream when a bus struck him. The man died at the scene."
The bus has been impounded and the commercial vehicle inspection unit is investigating. WorkSafe NZ is also likely to launch an inquiry.
"The Serious Crash Unit attended and the matter will be referred to the Coroner," Insp Ewers says.
"Police's thoughts are with the man's family at this time."
Newshub.
