Wellington traffic misery

A truck jumped the median barrier. Picture / Mark Mitchell

A passenger was thrown from a rubbish truck which over-turned on a major Wellington highway today.

Sergeant Brett Callander of the Wellington Central police said both the driver and his passenger were catapulted from the truck as it rolled over the median barrier on the motorway off-ramp, just south of the interchange at Aotea Quay.

Traffic was blocked in both directions after the crash, which occurred just before 7am and caused traffic delays of more than an hour.

The truck was removed by 10.30am and work was to begin this afternoon to repair the barrier, which was severely damaged.

Mr Callander said the driver escaped with minor injuries but the other man had received "the worst case of road rash you've seen".

"But he's going to be OK," he said.

A spokesman for Capital and Coast Health said both men were treated for minor injuries and discharged before midday.

- NZPA