The owner of a trucking company has praised the fast reflexes of one of his drivers after he averted a potential tragedy when a car suddenly pulled into his path.
Dashcam footage from the incident, which took place on the Napier-Taupō Road (SH5), captured the alarming incident.
The video shows the truck, a brand-new Kenworth belonging to Ngāti Haulage, one of several vehicles approaching a white Nissan that had pulled onto the side of the road.
As the truck approached the car, the Nissan suddenly attempted a u-turn, moving directly into the Kenworth's path.
The truck driver acted quickly, slamming the brakes and moving right – hitting the side of the car.
The two vehicles crossed the double yellow line, but thankfully there wasn't another vehicle coming from the opposite direction at that moment.
Speaking to 1News, Ngāti Haulage owner Storm Harrison praised the quick reflexes of his driver.
"With his quick reactions, he pretty much avoided a mass fatality," he said.
"He's bloody awesome to save those people's lives. And I'm proud of him."
Harrison said the truck driver was "angry" once both vehicles were on the side of the road, but realised as soon as he saw the people in the other car that they were as shaken as he was.
He said two young women were in the front, with an older lady in the back seat.
"The driver couldn't talk; she was in shock, and obviously, her life flashed before her eyes."
Harrison said the truck cost him around $800,000 and needed repairs worth thousands following the crash.
The truck driver was "shaken up" and "freaked out" following the accident, but Harrison said the best thing for him was to "just keep going".
"You got a lot of drivers out there, which I know personally, who've had fatalities or been in some sort of mass accident, and they've given up."
He said it was important to share the video to show the importance of being vigilant on the roads, especially when trucks are around.
"I think it's just that the video was a bit of an awareness post for everybody to watch what you're doing."
"Most of the fatalities that have happened up there are because of people not being aware or not using their brains.
"The road itself is free-flowing, so the first thing people want to do is either try and get in front of a truck or other people on the road.
"They take the risk, take off, and try and beat everybody."
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