An urgent fleet audit of passenger service vehicles related to Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL) Ltd has been undertaken by the NZ Transport Agency and NZ Police in response to the fatal crash involving an RAL-operated vehicle on the Ohakune Mountain Road on Saturday afternoon (July 28).
NZ Transport Agency Director Transport Access and Delivery Robert Brodnax says RAL Ltd has voluntarily suspended their bus operations following the vehicle inspections carried out yesterday (August 1).
Independent of the Police-led investigation of Saturday’s crash, the NZ Transport Agency is carrying out an investigation of RAL’s transport operations, which includes a full review of the company’s Transport Service Licence (TSL).
No further comment can be provided on the inspections or on Saturday's crash while the Police investigation, which is being assisted by the NZ Transport Agency, is ongoing.
The Transport Agency is actively working with Police and other agencies and transport operators to promote the safety of road users in New Zealand’s challenging alpine environments.
