Submerged and trapped: truck driver killed during river crossing

The truck fell into the water while the 67-year-old driver was boarding a vehicle ferry crossing the Clarence River in Lawrence on the north coast of NSW at 10am on July 25, police said.

An onlooker pulled the man from the river and started CPR while waiting for emergency services to arrive but he was unable to be revived.

Coffs Harbour crime manager Guy Flaherty said it was "a very tragic event".

"It would appear that the semi-trailer carrying sugar cane was moving onto the ferry when, for reasons as yet unknown, the ferry has become dislodged," he said on July 25.

"The vehicle has rolled off the back of the ferry and become submerged, trapping the driver for a short period of time.

"A member of the public has risked his own life and entered the water and retrieved the driver, performed CPR, but unfortunately the driver, the 67-year-old, has lost his life."

Coffs and Clarence police officers have established a crime scene at the Merton Street river crossing as investigators establish exactly what happened while the driver was boarding the ferry.

"Specialists are coming up to the Lawrence area this evening into the night to examine the ferry, and the vehicle will be recovered tomorrow afternoon with the assistance of Marine Area Command divers," Mr Flaherty said on July 25.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner and Safe Work NSW has been notified, police said.