Stock truck crash closes SH1

Tuesdays crash closed both lanes on SH1

State Highway 1 was closed at Waipapakauri on Tuesday after a Mangonui Haulage stock truck crashed, after exiting the sharp corner immediately west of the Waipapakauri Hotel.

The truck came to a halt nose-down in a ditch, blocking one lane, while the trailer came to rest on its side, blocking the other.

Approximately 20 bulls, which had been bound for the freezing works, were freed from the trailer, and a similar number from the truck. None were seriously injured. The driver was unscathed, while the truck suffered nothing worse than a damaged bumper, and was driven away.

One of the bulls making its escape from the overturned trailer.

Police, firefighters and a St John crew, all from Kaitaia, appeared happy to take something of a back seat while the bulls were released.

"They were seriously unhappy," Acting Senior Sergeant Sarah Wihongi said, especially, perhaps, the one that gratuitously attacked a Northland Age car. Parked on the road 100 metres away, behind another car, a fire appliance and an ambulance, which completely blocked the highway, it was officially regarded as well out of harm's way, but that proved to be a little optimistic.

One highly agitated bull went cross-country, briefly, before bounding over a safety barrier and back on to the highway past the road block.

"For a moment I thought it was going to try hurdling your car," Ms Wihongi told the Northland Age.

"It thought about it." And she thought about shooing it away, but chose the safety of the roadside ditch as a more sensible, if slightly selfish option.

The bull apparently changed its mind at the last moment, but kicked in the front right corner as it bolted past.

"That's what you get for having a red car," a firefighter said, helpfully.

At least the Northern Advocate's Kerikeri-based journo Peter de Graaf was in no real danger. He was dispatched by his chief reporter to Waipapa, but, having googled 'bull' to be sure he knew what he was looking for, he found nothing more alarming than a couple of relatively placid sheep and a mobility scooter.

He finally contacted the Age for more specific directions.

At least his car isn't dented.