Truckie praised for using freeway arrester bed
Another potential tragedy has been averted on Adelaide’s South Eastern Freeway after a truck driver used the second arrester bed to bring his vehicle to a safe stop.
Police found the truck in the arrester bed at Leawood Gardens just before 4am.
The Victorian driver said his engine brakes failed and he began to panic.
“Luckily this state has arrester beds to use in such emergencies… I did pray, as a Christian, and made it safely into it,” he said at the scene.
Kevin Lawton, Officer in Charge of the Heavy Vehicle Enforcement Section praised the driver’s actions.
“The incident highlights sound judgment by the driver who made a conscious decision to choose the arrester bed,” he said.
“It was a brave decision. His decision potentially saved his life and the lives of others.
“Investigations are continuing at the moment but we can’t say what speed the vehicle was doing.”
He said police mechanics are examining the truck.
Earlier this month quick thinking police officers prevented a serious crash by spotting a truck with smoking brakes and clearing the Glen Osmond and Cross Rd intersection so the runaway truck could safely pass through.
In August, two people were killed when a sewage truck failed to stop at the same intersection and crashed into three cars.
Morning news break – September 26
