The truck suspended in the air during the retrieval. Photo:
A multi-tonne truck that rolled off a narrow, winding road and down a bank in Wellington's Aro Valley has been successfully rescued.
The multi-tonne truck crashed down a bank on Thursday morning and landed only metres from occupied homes.
Two huge cranes were brought in to salvage the wreck on Friday.
Aro Valley Residents parked up with a picnic watching the cranes attempt to salvage wreck. Photo: RNZ/Mary Argue
Residents parked up to watch the retrieval throughout the morning.
The truck was being held in place by a cable before it could be raised up the bank.
The Fulton Hogan truck being pulled from a bank in Aro Valley. Photo:
Mortimer Terrace was closed overnight, with cordons in place, and ten residents were evacuated because of the risk the truck might fall on them.
Linesmen had to cut down power lines above the scene of the truck crash for the cranes to fit on the narrow, winding road.
A truck towed parked cars from surrounding streets to make room for the cranes.
A multi-tonne truck flipped in Aro Valley on Thursday. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Helene Ritchie, who was at home when the truck rolled down the bank into her garden, said she wanted to thank the workers who pulled it out.
She said the contractors did an extraordinary job.
Ritchie said there was damage to her fence, bank, a cabbage tree and part of the road, but it could have been much worse.
The driver was not inside when the truck rolled and no-one was injured.
The council said it did not know the precise reason for the crash and said the investigation would be a matter for the police.
The truck belonged to a subcontractor for Fulton Hogan and was used for vacuuming stormwater drains.
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