A truck driver survived after rolling a flatbed truck and trailer carrying a digger at Kourarau Hill in Carterton District.
Fire, police and ambulance responded to the single-vehicle crash on Westmere Rd near the Te Wharau Rd intersection at 3.30pm on Tuesday.
Emergency services said the driver “amazingly” suffered only moderate injuries, given the entire passenger side of the truck was crushed, while ambulance staff confirmed they treated one person at the scene in moderate condition and nobody needed transport to hospital for further treatment.
One firefighter said the driver’s survival was “unbelievable, if you saw the state of the truck”.
The truck had rolled off the road with its trailer protruding into the air, spilling diesel, oil, and a 20-tonne digger in the process.
Westmere Rd was closed overnight until a crane could be brought in from Palmerston North to remove the truck and trailer.
Carterton District Council said there appeared to be significant road damage but could not confirm the full extent of repairs needed until the road was cleared.
Westmere Rd was reopened at 12.30pm yesterday with stop-go traffic management in place while the crew finished clearing the truck and trailer from the road.
