Milk tanker slams into Taranaki building

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A tanker smashed into an empty Patea building this morning.

A tanker smashed into an empty Patea building this morning.

A tanker smashed into an empty Patea building this morning.

A tanker smashed into an empty Patea building this morning.

A tanker smashed into an empty Patea building this morning.

A tanker smashed into an empty Patea building this morning.

A tanker smashed into an empty Patea building this morning.

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A Taranaki service station attendant watched on as a Fonterra milk tanker ploughed across the forecourt and slammed into a building.

Fire Service spokesman Tim Rees said the tanker crashed into the empty building on Egmont Street, Patea, around 6.30am.

The driver escaped unharmed but the building was "seriously damaged", Mr Rees said.

Jay Knight, the owner of Patea BP, witnessed the accident.

"I was serving a customer and I just heard this funny grumbling noise and I just thought 'what the?' and I looked out the window and that's when he (the truck) took out the powerpole out front.  Then he came across forecourt and just took out our big BP sign then crashed straight into the building."

Mr Knight called 111 and rushed to help the truck driver.

"He had some lacerations on his arms head and legs but he was walking around afterwards."

The crash had happened on a straight patch of road.

It is understood the damaged building – a former accounting office - was unused at the time of the crash.