Crash milk tanker driver ‘critical’
A truck driver was critically injured when his milk tanker flipped in Central Taranaki, rupturing the container and spilling thousands of litres of its contents across the road.
The driver was flown to Waikato Hospital by the Taranaki Community Rescue Helicopter following the accident which happened on Skinner Rd, east of Stratford, about 8.30am yesterday.
Police, fire and St John Ambulance staff attended.
Sergeant Andrew Russ said the driver was trapped in the truck for nearly an hour before being transferred to a waiting ambulance and from there to the helicopter.
He said the fully laden tanker was heading south on Skinner Rd when the crash occurred.
‘‘He’s got too far to the left left, lost control and crossed the centre line and flipped and rolled the entire unit,’’ Russ said.
The crash had ruptured tanks on both the truck and the trailer. ’’Probably over 20,000 litres of milk have ended up in the drain,’’ Russ said.
There was dirt and milk covering the road at the scene and a strong smell of diesel. Pieces of a broken fence littered the ground near the damaged vehicle.
The serious crash unit had been called to investigate, Russ said.
Fire crews from Stratford, Toko and Eltham volunteer brigades were called, along with St John ambulance and police.
The road was closed between East Rd and Bird Rd shortly after the crash and remained blocked off until the serious crash unit had finished at the scene.
The crash was heard by two children at a nearby house.
Kate Beckett, 10, and Hollie Beckett, 9 said they heard a loud rumble, a pause, and than a very loud bang. ‘‘We ran outside and saw tanker and started crying,’’ Kate told reporters. ‘‘It was frightening.’’