There will be a sheepish truck driver this morning after a wool bale fell off his truck, hit a car and exploded over the bridge.
An unfortunate Napier-bound driver was crossing the Ngaruroro Bridge when confronted by the bale of wool, which was travelling at speed southwards straight toward his car.
The
shaken driver said all he saw was the bale bouncing towards him. It bounced on to the front of the car, smashing its windscreen.
The bale then exploded, spreading wool across the road and for several metres in both directions.
The accident happened at 8.30am today and the bridge was reduced to one lane, causing traffic to back up about 100 metres.
The driver of the car was uninjured but his passenger had minor injuries to his left hand.
Hastings police Senior Sergeant Ross Smith said police had caught up with the truck driver who had continued on to Hastings unaware he had lost the bale, which weighed between 150 and 300kg.
Mr Smith said the truck driver had been charged with having an insecure load.
