By 3 News online staff
A truck carrying sheets of glass collided with the Penrose Rd overbridge on Auckland's Southern Motorway this afternoon, leaving smashed glass strewn across the road and surrounding cars.
An eye-witness to the bridge strike, which happened just after 2pm, says there was "a big explosion”.
“It was awesome,” says audio electrician Mark Buckingham, “but only because no one got hurt”.
Mr Buckingham was driving southbound, around 200m behind the truck, at the time of the collision. He describes the shattering glass as looking like “a cloud of smoke” hanging in the air in front of him.
“The whole area went white,” he says.
Mr Buckingham says the truck was carrying an open-topped shipping container with glass sheets sticking out of it. After striking the bridge, he says the truck driver pulled over and got out of his cab. A group of cars that were following the truck also pulled over, covered in glass.
Road cleared but still congested
The New Zealand Transport Agency says all southbound lanes have now re-opened following the incident, but motorists are still being warned to expect delays.
3 News
source: newshub archive
