Spill disrupts traffic

An Auckland truck driver found himself in a slippery situation when 400 litres of vegetable oil leaked from his load, causing two car crashes and closing part of an inner-city motorway interchange at noon yesterday.

The oil started leaking as the vehicle drove uphill from Victoria St, going unnoticed for about 500m until the interchange near Nelson and Union Sts. One lane of Pitt St and the Cook St off-ramp were closed until absorbent material was put on the oil. It is believed the driver was fined