Wellington, Feb 26 NZPA - Police have named a truck driver killed following a freak accident in which a large piece of timber hit his wing mirror, causing it to swing around and strike him in the head.

He was Taylor John Schouwenaars, 36, of Paraparaumu.

His quick-thinking passenger grabbed the wheel to steer the truck to safety when the accident happened on State Highway 1 at Pukerua Bay, north of Wellington, about 6.50am today.

He was airlifted to Wellington Hospital in a critical condition by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter. However, he died from his injuries later in the morning.

It was a "really freak accident", said Sergeant Martin Tunley of Porirua police.

The 50kmh section of road was narrower than normal because of road works.

The 3m long, 100mm by 50mm piece of dressed timber had hit the south-bound truck's sizeable wing mirror, causing it to swing round at speed and strike Mr Schouwenaars in the head.

The female passenger was uninjured.

Police are appealing for information about a white Nissan single cab ute, seen beforehand driving in Pukerua Bay and then heading north on SH1 with a length of timber protruding over the driver's cab on a strange angle.

They would also like to talk to anyone who witnessed the accident or who was travelling on SH1 around the time.