Wind hurls trailer off road

WRECKED: Debris from the trailer's spilled load was scattered across the road and field at Mt Bruce.

High winds picked up a trailer towed by a PBT Transport truck, ripping the sides open like a sardine can and spewing cargo across the side of the road yesterday.

When the Times-Age arrived at the scene at Mt Bruce about 9.30am, staff struggled to open their car doors, as winds of up to 130km/h whipped through the area.

The truck's driver, heading from Palmerston North through Masterton to Martinborough on his daily run, lost control of the trailer on a sweeping right-hand bend. The force of the pull from the trailer yanked the truck into a paddock on the left-hand side of the road. The trailer twisted and ripped open, its load of plywood, boxes, wine and other groceries tumbling along the verge and into the paddock.

The driver was too shaken to speak with the Times-Age but commented "I thought I wasn't going to make it", as he clasped his hands in a prayer motion.

Dairy farmer Henry Christensen said he saw the truck in the paddock and went to aid the driver, who was not injured.

"He was in shock," Mr Christensen said.

It was not the first time trucks had been picked up by high winds at that corner, Mr Christensen said: "I've seen a few. Last time, two trucks rolled on this corner."

Masterton Fire Station senior officer Paul Thompson said the area was windy during storms, as he warned staff to be careful.

"The wind drops off the Tararuas," he said.

In the past, police had been forced to close the road to heavy traffic and campervans when the winds had whipped up to high speeds, Mr Thompson said.

However, Masterton traffic policing sergeant Chris Megaw said the highway wouldn't be closed at this stage: "The problem is, one minute the wind can be high and 10 minutes' later it's all calm."

The driver yesterday had been lucky the truck itself hadn't slammed on to its side, Mr Megaw said.

"[The wind] has lifted the trailer and the driver has lost his steering."

The truck had been equipped with a swivel join rather than a tow bar, which had saved the truck from going over.