At least 20 people were injured this morning when a side tipper truck ploughed into several vehicles on the N3 northbound near Ashburton, adding to the chaos caused by an earlier truck collision on the same stretch of road.
The second and more serious crash involved three trucks, a taxi, and five cars, leaving emergency services scrambling to assist the injured.
Mi7 National Group’s Emergency Medical Services confirmed that multiple patients required stabilization on the scene.
Video update: N3 Northbound Closed After Two Serious Truck Crashes Near Ashburton
The highway remains closed as recovery teams work to clear the wreckage.
Meanwhile, the situation worsened when bystanders looted a crashed truck carrying soft drinks, further disrupting operations.
The crashes occurred on a known accident-prone section of the N3, with wet road conditions likely contributing to the collisions. Authorities have urged motorists to avoid the area as delays are expected to continue for several hours.
No fatalities have been confirmed at this stage.
Do you have more on this story? Click to WhatsApp us. Anonymity guaranteed.
