Stuck truck blocks road

NO WAY: A downed tree caused chaos on State Highway 2, just south of Pahiatua, yesterday when a truck driver tried to slip through the gap, getting his truck caught in soft ground. PHOTO/STEVE CARLE

A truck driver who tried to slip through a gap between a tree downed in high winds and a cliff edge got his large truck and trailer stuck, resulting in the closure of the main road south of Pahiatua for about an hour yesterday.

Pahiatua police Sergeant Glenn Ryan said the tree came crashing down across both lanes of State Highway 2, just south of Pahiatua, in a windy part of the road near Totaranui Stud, about 11.30am.

Several motorists managed to drive through the gap but, when the driver of the truck and trailer unit tried to do the same thing, his vehicle slipped in soft ground and became stuck.

"The truck slipped sideways on the soft grass verge."

Motorists got help from a nearby farmer, who used a chainsaw to cut the tree down, and, with the help of another truck, tractor and chains, pulled the stuck truck back on to the road, Mr Ryan said. The incident happened on a windy part of the road with "blind spots" for oncoming traffic.

When drivers came across trees blown down in high winds, they should not just drive through without a thought for other motorists, he said.

"Don't try and drive through. Stop and warn other motorists. There are a series of bends where this happened. Cars could have easily been rear-ended by other motorists unaware something had happened ahead."

Traffic was diverted down Scarborough Rd while the road was closed.

The farmer cut the fallen tree up and helped clear the highway of debris to let traffic flow.

"It's all tickety-boo now," Mr Ryan said.