Members of the Balclutha Volunteer Fire Brigade work to
untangle a truck from a roadside barrier yesterday morning.
Photo by Helena de Reus.
A 28-year-old man escaped injury after the truck he was
driving hit a railway bridge near Balclutha yesterday morning.
Constable Andy Denny, of Balclutha, said emergency services
were called to a crash on the Kaitangata Highway shortly
after 9.30am.
He said it appeared the driver misjudged the height of the
bridge, and the force of the top of the truck hitting it
caused the truck to spin around before hitting the roadside
guardrail.
The road was closed for about 45 minutes while the Balclutha
Volunteer Fire Brigade worked to untangle the truck from the
roadside guard rail. The crash caused minor damage to the
rail.
Const Denny said police inquiries into the crash were
continuing, but fatigue may have been a factor.
Police were seeking information about a similar incident
involving the same railway bridge shortly before the crash,
he said.
"Police were advised that a ... truck carrying a load of
timber also collided with the bridge earlier that morning,"
Const Denny said.
"Timber caught the top of the bridge and caused some wood to
fall off the truck."
The incident was not reported and Const Denny asked for
witnesses or the driver concerned to contact the police. The
exact time is unknown.
helena.dereus@odt.co.nz
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