A truck carrying what appears to be a load of citrus narrowly avoided causing a serious collision after it failed to make it up a steep section of Mazisi Kunene Road, just after the toll gate bridge.
CCTV footage captured by Homeland Security shows the truck steadily climbing the road while several vehicles follow behind.
As the truck approaches the top of the incline, it suddenly loses momentum and comes to a stop. It then begins rolling backwards towards the vehicles behind it, leaving the motorists with very little room to react.
The truck eventually jackknifes, with what appears to be a load of citrus spilling from the trailer. Fortunately, none of the five vehicles travelling directly behind the truck were struck.
The incident is another reminder of the problems heavy vehicles can face on this section of road.
Trucks are not permitted to use this route, yet they continue to regularly find themselves on Mazisi Kunene Road. In some cases, drivers may be unfamiliar with the area or end up on the route after following incorrect navigation instructions.
Homeland Security’s CCTV cameras have captured numerous incidents involving trucks on this road, including heavy vehicles struggling on the steep sections and becoming involved in crashes.
Watch: CCTV Shows How Truck Failed on Mazisi Kunene Road Hill and Rolled Back
While the latest incident could easily have resulted in multiple vehicles being crushed or forced into oncoming traffic, the outcome was relatively fortunate.
The footage once again highlights why truck drivers need to be particularly careful about their routes when operating in unfamiliar areas.
For a fully loaded heavy vehicle, a steep climb can quickly become a serious problem once momentum is lost — and as this incident shows, the consequences can be frightening for everyone following behind.
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