Truck accident closes part of Southern motorway

South-bound rush hour travellers can expect a slow trip home out of Auckland tonight after a dramatic truck crash closed part of the motorway.

Although two lanes have opened and traffic is flowing, it is starting to back up near Otara where a truck crashed just off an off ramp and into a house.

Police are diverted off at Tecoma Street, Mt Wellington, Otahuhu, and Otara in an effort to reduce congestion and the truck will be recovered later tonight.

They say the truck was travelling south and was making a lane change when it had to brake to avoid another vehicle. It has then crossed all three lanes to its left and left the motorway and collided with part of a house adjacent to the motorway.

Three other vehicles were involved in the collision, with the occupants receiving minor to moderate injuries.

No-one was injured in the house.

- New Zealand Herald staff