Man dies after grader accident

Auckland man Mark Vernon has died following a roading grader accident yesterday.

The family man was operating the construction machine on Maxted Rd, Ramarama when he lost control and was forced to jump from the runaway grader.

He hit his head in the process and suffered critical injuries.

Mr Vernon was rushed to intensive care at Middlemore Hospital.

Family and friends had been saying their farewells and were preparing to turn off Mr Vernon's life support last night, his son Bob Vernon said yesterday.

A Middlemore spokeswoman confirmed Mr Vernon died overnight.

Bob Vernon, who was on the scene at the time of the incident said he didn't know what had gone wrong.

"The grader never hit him. It was a runaway machine and the call was made to jump from it."

The pair who both work for the family earthmoving business Vernon Farms were working outside their property when the accident happened.

Family made the decision to donate Mr Vernon's organs, saying it is what he would have wanted.

Photo: NZ Herald