Bags of flour strewn across road after truck overturns
SIPHELELE NDZAMELA
A TRUCK with a large cargo of flour overturned on Southwell Road hill early last Thursday morning, causing traffic snarls for hours.
The truck had come from Pietermaritzburg and was heading to Port Elizabeth.
The truck driver, who did not provide his name, told TotT he heard a noise coming from the trailer just before the accident occurred at 2am.
| TOPPLED: Bags of flour burst open and were scattered across Southwell Road when a heavy-hauler truck overturned on the notorious bend last Thursday Picture: SIPHELELE NDZAMELA |
He said when he tried to slow down he discovered that pallets loaded with flour were falling off the truck, which also overturned with all the goods that it was carrying.
The driver said he immediately phoned the police and their response to the accident was very fast as they arrived while he was still trying to get out.
"It’s hard to believe this because I’m always using this route and nothing has ever happened,” said the devastated driver.
After the arrival of the police, Kowie Towing and Repairs arrived on scene having heard about the incident through a radio frequency. They brought a bigger tow truck from Port Elizabeth.
Port Alfred’s fire department also came to the scene to provide their assistance.
While many bags were damaged much of the cargo was still salvageable.
The fire department and traffic departments had to divert traffic and then direct traffic on a stop-and-go basis while recovery operations continued through the morning.
