Dramatic footage captured the moment two 15-tonne concrete slabs tumbled from a orry and crashed onto a busy motorway, as police say it was a miracle nobody was killed
Two pedestrians were left “lucky to be alive” after 15-tonne concrete slabs fell from a lorry on to a motorway.
The dramatic footage captured the moment two huge concrete slabs came loose from the back of a lorry before crashing on to the road, striking several cars and narrowly missing people standing nearby.
The incident happened at around 10.30am on Friday on the North-South Motorway in southern Australia as the lorry was merging into a new lane. Police said the vehicle’s heavy load shifted before two 15-tonne concrete segments fell onto the carriageway.
The 15-tonne delivery struck three cars parked on the motorway’s hard shoulder, where two pedestrians had been standing. Dust filled the air as the concrete blocks crashed onto the road.
Police said one pedestrian was taken to hospital with a suspected broken arm. They said: “One of the pedestrians was taken to hospital by ambulance with a suspected broken arm. Two other people sustained minor injuries. Police are amazed that no one was killed during this incident.”
Father-of-two Vicas Mataru was helping a colleague whose vehicle had broken down when the slabs crashed onto the road. Speaking from hospital, where he was treated for a broken arm, he told 7News: “I remember a big sound – bang! – and a lot of dust. I called the guy and said, ‘Run!’ We were very, very lucky.”
He described surviving the incident as “a miracle” and said a yellow car appeared to take much of the impact, diverting the concrete slabs away from where he was standing.
Mr Mataru also said the lorry driver approached him afterwards to apologise, claiming another vehicle had pulled in front of him and forced him to brake suddenly, causing the load to come loose.
The lorry had been transporting concrete segments for the Torrens to Darlington (T2D) motorway construction project.
Following the crash, the Department for Infrastructure and Transport said transportation of concrete segments had been suspended “out of an abundance of caution” until further notice while investigations continue.
The damaged vehicles were later towed from the scene before a crane was brought in to lift and remove the huge concrete slabs. Investigations into the crash are still ongoing.
