Police are amazed no one was seriously hurt when a steel-bearing truck rear-ended another, catapulting its cab forward and flinging metal chains onto a nearby car, on the Southern Motorway yesterday.
The crash occurred just before 11am and forced police to close two northbound lanes until 2.30pm, using the other lane and the safety shoulder to allow traffic slowly through.
Motorists were stopped at Manukau and Te Irirangi Drive onramps and diverted along Great South Rd.
One driver suffered a minor knee injury, but all others walked away unscathed.
"It is very, very lucky - it's amazing really," Sergeant Jeff Gerbich, of the motorways division, told the Weekend Herald.
He said it appeared that the front truck had slowed to change lanes, forcing the steel-bearing truck travelling behind to brake suddenly. The cargo of steel girders shifted forward and knocked the cab off.
Fire and ambulance staff attended the scene and heavy absorbents were used to mop up spilled oil. The police commercial investigation unit is investigating.
Truck loses cab in smash-up
The police were amazed more people weren't hurt. Photo / Dean Purcell
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