Widow's plea after fatal logging crash: 'Greg's death was preventable'

The tragic death of a Coromandel truck driver has led to a powerful call for change from his widow.

Gregory Albert Stevens, 59, died in May 2023 when his fully loaded logging truck and trailer rolled at a ‘teacherous’ bend on a private forestry road. The Thames District Court later learned the bend’s turning diameter was 7.5 metres less than the minimum standard required for a truck of that size.

Compounding the danger were wet surfaces, mud-caked tyres, and darkness on a steep downhill approach. Yet WorkSafe has revealed the road lacked any warning signs, markers, or berms.

In a victim impact statement, Caroline Stevens shared the crushing reality of life without her husband.

"Greg’s death was preventable, and if those companies had done what they should have done, my Greg would still be with me today." 

She added that her family's lives remain in "limbo" following the tragedy.

“It is my hope that Greg’s death will serve as a reminder to prioritise safety in the workplace, so no other family has to endure this trauma. My plea is simple: let our loved ones come home from work safely,” Mrs Stevens told the court.

Judge Arthur Tompkins found that the forest owner, Specialty Timbers (1987) Limited, and the transport contractor, Trevor Masters Limited, each assumed someone else was ensuring road safety. This "pass the buck" mentality meant nobody took responsibility for the fatal stretch of road.

Forestry remains one of New Zealand’s most perilous sectors, with a fatality rate approximately 20 times higher than the national average.

"No log load is worth a life," said Brad Duggan, WorkSafe’s northern regional manager. He stressed that proper risk assessment is not optional when moving heavy vehicles through difficult terrain.

Both companies were charged under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 for failing to consult and coordinate with the forest managers, Forest360 Limited. The court has now ordered reparations of $171,258 and imposed a combined fine of $26,250.

In response to the tragedy, Forest360 Limited has also entered into a binding agreement, promising to invest over $400,000 (NZD) into safety initiatives to prevent future tragedies.

Images supplied by WorkSafe