A BEE sting is thought to have led to a log truck crash on the Coast highway yesterday.

A fully-laden log truck tipped over on State Highway 35, 10 kilometres north of Tolaga Bay, at about 1.15pm.

The 35-year-old driver and a passenger were flown to Gisborne Hospital by the ECT rescue helicopter.

Tolaga Bay chief fire officer Ray Dever said the driver and his companion were both out of the rig when emergency services arrived.

A St John ambulance spokesman said the driver suffered a moderate arm injury and a range of more minor injuries, while his passenger had minor facial injuries.

Both were flown to hospital for further treatment and the driver was admitted. He was in a stable condition this morning.

Some of the logs on the truck fell across the road but firemen were able to get them out of the way to ensure the road remained open.

“There were logs everywhere. We were able to man-handle them on to the road shoulder. Contractors later picked them up and took them away,” CFO Dever said.

“The driver said he had been stung by a bee that flew in the truck window and that caused the accident.”