Truck submerged in Marlborough after boating mishap at Waikawa Bay boat ramp

A boating nightmare has become a reality at Waikawa Bay, near Picton, after a truck was dragged into the water by a boat.

Nelson resident Steve Badham came across the sunken truck as he came into Waikawa Bay after a fishing trip on Sunday afternoon. 

"I just saw it and I thought, 'oh no'.

"It's your worst nightmare when you've got a boat for that to happen."

He was told the truck started slipping on the boat ramp and jumped out of gear before the trailer jack-knifed. 

Both the truck and the boat ended up in the water.

The owner had just repainted the truck, while the boat and trailer had been sold to new owners, Badham said.

"He was pretty upset because he didn't know what the condition of the trailer was like. 

"It's certainly not a pleasant thing to happen." 

The truck was blocking one of three bays at the Waikawa Bay boat ramp, which made maneuvering difficult for other boats coming in. 

A tow truck was called, but the light was fading and the tide was coming in, Badham said.

"He was worried the cab was going to be covered by the time the tow arrived." 

When Badham left, the boat and truck were still in the water. 

It was not the only vehicle that got into water trouble in Marlborough over the weekend.

Police were called after a vehicle got into difficulty crossing a river near Blenheim on Saturday afternoon.

Blenheim police acting sergeant Shane Webber said police were called after two men in a SUV became stranded attempting to cross the Wairau River west of the State Highway 1 bridge.

They were towed out of the river by a 4WD vehicle, Webber said.