Wool, detergent spill after crash

The driver of a massive carrier truck is seriously injured after he crashed south of Eketahuna, spilling slippery detergent and bales of wool onto the road.

"Basically it slid around 90 degrees," said Kevin Smith, Masterton Fire station officer. "The trailer ended up in the ditch on the left hand side and the truck unit on the right, completely blocking the road."

The crash happened early yesterday at about 1.15am, 5km south of Eketahuna. "It was carrying about nine 1000-litre containers of chemical detergent and about a dozen bales of wool," said Mr Smith. They were scattered all over the road, he said.

Max Mayer, Eketahuna chief fire officer, said two of the containers had split open and were spilling onto the road. The massive B-Train type carrier truck also took a power pole out, he said. "The road was closed because the truck was right across it."

The injured driver was taken to Palmerston North Hospital.

Mr Smith said a Hazmat (hazardous materials) unit from Palmerston North attended the scene but was not needed. "Sand was used as an absorbent, as there was some diesel spilled as well as the detergent."

He said the detergent was slippery and there was lots of debris including truck parts to be cleared off the road.

McAuley's Transport and Higgins Contractors helped clear the scene and tow away the truck. Mr Mayer said the crash happened on a straight part of the road and no other vehicles or drivers were involved. As well as ambulance crew, Pahiatua police attended the scene. The road was opened around mid-morning.