Caltex Te Ngae Service station staff had a narrow escape after a runaway truck smashed into a lamp nearly hitting them and an LPG tank yesterday.
The truck, which had been parked on a property across Te Ngae Rd, rolled down a drive, crossed the road and went through the Te Ngae and Owhata Rds roundabout before crashing into a street lamp. The vehicle came to rest just 15m from staff and 50m from a flammable Rockgas storage tank.
Caltex Te Ngae manager Prased Pilla said he couldn't believe how fortunate they were.
"Basically we were saved by the pole, otherwise it could have hit my office or worse."
Mr Pilla said when the truck rolled out and crossed the roundabout, it was lucky there were no cars on it and no pedestrians on the footpath.