Police Tried to Revoke Ashik Ali’s Licence Before Fatal Crash

The fatal crash that claimed the life of roadworker Johnathon Walters in May 2024 did not happen in isolation. Newly released official documents reveal a troubling history behind the company and its director, Ashik Alis, who was sentenced to three years in prison for manslaughter.

Authorities twice attempted to revoke Ali’s Transport Service Licence (TSL), but those efforts ultimately failed, allowing unsafe vehicles to remain on the road until disaster struck.


Repeated Warnings Ignored


NZTA Considered Revocation-Then Backed Down

Documents obtained by RNZ show that in both 2020 and 2021, regulatory officers raised significant red flags about Ali’s fleet, describing the vehicles as dangerously defective, unregistered, and repeatedly failing Certificates of Fitness (COF).


In one 2020 email, Officer Mark Painter warned:

“The state of their vehicles [is] now showing real safety concerns.”

Despite strong recommendations to revoke Ali’s licence, NZTA instead issued warnings, improvement notices, and increased the inspection frequency, but ultimately allowed Ali to continue operating.


Promises Broken

Ali argued in 2021 that he deserved to keep his licence and assured regulators that the troublesome truck-later involved in the fatal crash would be taken out of service. Yet the same vehicle was still in use in May 2024, laden with cargo and parked on a slope, when its brake system catastrophically failed.


The Fatal Night in Remuera

Walters was working on night repairs in Remuera when Ali’s truck rolled backwards. The vehicle had a cardan-shaft handbrake, a mechanism previously linked to multiple incidents, and suffered from a dozen major defects, including hydraulic leaks and structural weaknesses.

With no working brake system to stop it, the truck crushed Walters, prompting a wave of grief, industry outrage, and renewed scrutiny of regulatory enforcement.


NZTA Rejects Claims of Systemic Failure

The Transport Agency pushed back against suggestions of systemic breakdown, insisting it used every tool legally available.

It emphasised that the fatal truck had been ordered off the road, but Ali continued to use it illegally.

Deputy director Mike Hargreaves stated that the court’s ruling sent a “strong warning” to any operator considering cutting corners.


A Company on the Radar Since 2018

Investigations revealed that Ashik Transport Limited had been flagged numerous times since 2018 for:

  • structurally unsafe vehicles
  • expired registrations
  • lack of valid COFs
  • pink-stickered trucks (the most severe designation for unsafe vehicles)

The truck involved in Walters' death was among those previously pink-stickered.

Even after the fatal crash, several trucks were allegedly spruced up at the last minute before inspections, with four more pink-stickered in June 2024.


Final Licence Revocation

After years of non-compliance and a preventable tragedy, Ali's TSL was finally revoked in August 2024. NZTA later issued condolences to the Walters family, acknowledging the profound and irreversible loss.


Lessons for New Zealand’s Road Safety Future

The case has spurred urgent calls for reform to ensure operators who repeatedly fail safety standards cannot continue working unchecked.

Stronger penalties, quicker suspensions, real-time compliance monitoring, and greater enforcement authority have all been floated as necessary steps. The tragedy underscores the critical importance of proactive regulation, swift enforcement, and industry accountability-all necessary to prevent similar incidents in the future.


FAQ


Why was Ashik Ali’s licence not revoked earlier?

Despite repeated warnings and recommendations, regulators opted for improvement notices and additional monitoring instead of full revocation.


What caused the fatal accident?

The parked truck rolled backward due to brake failure. The vehicle had multiple known defects and should not have been on the road.


What is a pink sticker?

A pink sticker is the highest-level enforcement designation for a vehicle deemed unsafe. It prohibits the vehicle from being driven until repairs are made and it passes inspection.


How long was Ali sentenced to prison?

Ali received a three-year sentence for manslaughter.


Did the industry respond?

Yes. Industry leaders called for stronger enforcement powers, including the ability to impound unsafe trucks.


What changes might come from this case?

Greater regulatory authority, faster revocations, and stricter oversight of repeat offenders are among the reforms now being considered.

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