'Flock of birds' leads to Gold Coast motorway chaos
The Pacific Motorway was thrown into chaos yesterday afternoon when a truck was reportedly hit by a large flock of birds.
The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle causing it to jackknife on the Nerang River Bridge.
The truck rolled, exploding into a fireball that sent plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky, causing gridlock on the major highway for hours following.
A Southport man has been hailed a hero after he assisted in the rescue of the shaken truck driver.
Athen Barnaby 33, selflessly climbed onto the truck's cabin and pulled the dazed driver from the blazing wreckage.
Another hero also emerged following yesterdays dramatic crash.
Motorists stuck in traffic during yesterday's sweltering heat given bottles of water by a Gold Coast woman.
Wendy McCreadie, a Nerang resident who lives near the M1, saw the drivers stranded in endless gridlock and decided to help out - going car to car handing out free water to grateful drivers.
The random act of kindness was captured on camera by several motorists and has since gone viral.
Southbound lanes of the M1 remained closed until the early hours of this morning.
Engineers had to assess the damage to the bridge and roadway and reassess their structural integrity, leaving motorists gridlocked for several hours.
The truck driver, believed to be aged in his 60s, was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital.
It’s reported he suffered a suspected broken leg, soft tissue injuries and minor burns.
Police say no one else was harmed in the accident and are investigating the cause of the crash.
News break – February 3
