Truck bales out when tyre blows

CLEAN-UP: Tractors scoop up bales from the street to a replacement truck.

Drivers at the Carterton roundabout flinched and ducked as a trailer-load of hay bales tumbled off a toppling trailer on Friday night.

About 6pm a Gray's Contracting Ltd truck, turning right from Masterton, blew a tyre on its rear trailer as it was negotiating a hard turn at the roundabout.

Around 20 bales toppled into the street and sidewalk as the trailer turned on its side, with one smashing the shopfront window of Headquarters Hairdressers.

The hairdressers had been closed at the time, and no one was hurt in the incident.

Carterton resident Fran Jenkins was in her car at the roundabout and was giving way to the truck when bales started coming towards her.

"It came over the top of the roundabout and just tipped," she said.

"The high bales just started coming towards us.

"I just ducked - automatic reaction.

"I thought they were going to hit us."

Leia Cooper, owner of the hairdressing salon, was at home when she started getting phone calls. She rushed back, thinking a truck had gone through her shop.

"The public were amazing - I had about 10 phone calls."

She was relieved the damage was not severe.

Even the Christmas tree, which had been standing in the window, was still upright.

Senior constable Pete Sykes, of Greytown, attended the scene and confirmed no one had been hurt. He said there did not appear to be any concerns about the load.

"That's a standard load for that sort of trailer."

He was very glad no one had been on the sidewalk at the time.