Ryan
16-07-2008, 06:23 AM
Johannesburg - A runaway truck caused traffic mayhem on the freeway system north of Johannesburg on Tuesday.
The truck, whose brakes had failed, struck some 26 cars as it veered across all four lanes on the N1 south between Buccleuch and Rivonia at 17:45.
The Metro Police's Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said it took two hours to clear up the scene. Miraculously, only a few motorists were injured.
Minnaar said the truck was transporting steel pipes.
A driver of a blue Volkswagen Jetta had to be cut free from his car by emergency workers after his vehicle was squashed up against the safety barricades.
"He survived, he did not have a single scratch," said Minnaar.
Four other people were injured in the accident, said Minnaar.
Netcare 911 spokesperson Mark Stokoe said: "The truck driver had initially been in the emergency lane due to the brake failure, but he had to suddenly swerve out of that lane because of a stationary car.
"He then proceeded over all four lanes before crashing through the centre barrier and coming to rest on top of a little blue VW in the centre divide.
"Several cars were undoubtedly completely written off."
The driver of the Volkswagen stuck under the truck was freed once the rescue crew jacked open his door.
He was walking around on the scene telling metro officials his story.
"Damaged cars and debris lay strewn over the freeway over a distance of about 200m, cars were all over the place, some facing in the direction they had just come from," Stokoe said.
"Amazingly, only two people suffered light injuries," said Stokoe.
Peak hour traffic crawled along as only one lane was made available.
The truck, whose brakes had failed, struck some 26 cars as it veered across all four lanes on the N1 south between Buccleuch and Rivonia at 17:45.
The Metro Police's Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said it took two hours to clear up the scene. Miraculously, only a few motorists were injured.
Minnaar said the truck was transporting steel pipes.
A driver of a blue Volkswagen Jetta had to be cut free from his car by emergency workers after his vehicle was squashed up against the safety barricades.
"He survived, he did not have a single scratch," said Minnaar.
Four other people were injured in the accident, said Minnaar.
Netcare 911 spokesperson Mark Stokoe said: "The truck driver had initially been in the emergency lane due to the brake failure, but he had to suddenly swerve out of that lane because of a stationary car.
"He then proceeded over all four lanes before crashing through the centre barrier and coming to rest on top of a little blue VW in the centre divide.
"Several cars were undoubtedly completely written off."
The driver of the Volkswagen stuck under the truck was freed once the rescue crew jacked open his door.
He was walking around on the scene telling metro officials his story.
"Damaged cars and debris lay strewn over the freeway over a distance of about 200m, cars were all over the place, some facing in the direction they had just come from," Stokoe said.
"Amazingly, only two people suffered light injuries," said Stokoe.
Peak hour traffic crawled along as only one lane was made available.