A builder at the scene after a runaway truck crashed down a bank in Wellington believes an unlucky car was actually the hero of the day.
The truck, which was working on the notoriously steep and winding Mortimer Terrace, in Aro Valley, crashed down a bank shortly before 9am on Thursday.
The multi-tonne truck clipped a parked car, shunting it down the street, before it plunged off the road, taking down a fence as it went.
The truck landed only metres from occupied homes. The driver was not inside at the time.
Builder Zac James went to investigate after hearing a boom, and initially thought his site's concrete-filled skip-bin was being removed.
"I went down there to have a look and there was a truck tipped over right in front of the house.
"It's a big mess down there eh."
A large truck has flipped down a bank on Mortimer Terrace in Aro Valley. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
He said it was lucky that the truck's trajectory took it into the side of a parked car.
"It must have slowed it down. If that car wasn't there it would have gone straight into that house.
"It looks like that car saved the day in the end."
James said the truck driver appeared to be in shock, as did the elderly resident whose home was in the line of fire.
"She seems like a nice lady, just a bit shocked to have a truck in her front yard."
About 10 people from two households below had since been evacuated and the road was closed.
Another neighbour said the sound of the crash sent him running to the street.
"It was very loud. I didn't see the driver, in fact I was a bit concerned he was still in the truck. But later heard he was uninjured."
Brooklyn fire station officer Paul Doughty said the crew stabilised the truck with chains based on a 16-tonne weight.
He said while the truck's cab was "pretty munched", the rest of it had surprisingly little damage.
A large truck has flipped down a bank on Mortimer Terrace in Aro Valley. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
John McGinty of McGinty's towing company said his crew would attempt to pull the truck out on Friday.
He said it was a big task. Two towing trucks would be required and the powerlines above had to be removed.
In the meantime, a 21-tonne haulage truck was being used to anchor the broken truck below in place.
Roading contractors Fulton Hogan referred all questions to Wellington City Council.
The council said it did not know the precise reason the truck rolled and said the investigation would be a matter for the police.
The road would remain closed overnight and power would be cut to some homes on Friday morning while the truck was removed, from about 7am, the council said.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
