Truckload of steel blocks Desert Road

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 599, 15 August 1995, Page 2

Truckload of steel blocks Desert Road

A truck accident near the summit of the Desert Road in the early hours of Thursday morning saw the road closed until 2pm. Police from Waiouru and Turangi attended the accident. The truck driver was reported to have sustained minor head injuries when his truck and trailer flipped onto its side after hitting a patch of ice. The truck' s cargo of steel blocked the road requiring soldiers from the Army Training Group to be called out to assist, said Waiouru police constable Dale Jenkins. Mr Jenkins said a lane was opened allowing backed-up traffic through, but no further vehicles were allowed onto the Desert Road until both lanes were cleared. Army sources said the new Skytrak forklift was used to load the steel on to another truck while the M8 1 6 recovery vehicle equipped with a crane was also called out. Mr Jenkins said a truck from Ohingaiti took away the load of steel. • At around 10pm on Wednesday night a cow died when it was hit by a car near the Desert Road barriers at Waiouru. The car was extensively damaged but the driver was not hurt, Mr Jenkins said. • Waiouru police in the last week (as at Friday) had processed a further three blood samples for excess blood alcohol. Mr Jenkins said there is absolutely no excuse for drinking and driving especially with the advent of the Waiouru community van.