Two pedestrians have narrowly escaped serious injury after concrete slabs fell from a truck on Adelaide’s Northern Expressway on Friday morning, sparking a major emergency response and traffic disruptions.
Police said the incident occurred just after 10:30am at the intersection of the Northern Expressway and Port Wakefield Road (Bolivar Boulevard) when a truck carrying large concrete slabs entered the southbound lanes.
As the heavy vehicle merged into traffic, several concrete slabs reportedly became dislodged from the trailer and crashed onto the roadway, narrowly missing two pedestrians who were nearby.
Emergency services rushed to the scene after multiple witnesses reported the incident. The two pedestrians were described as “extremely lucky to be alive” after avoiding the falling concrete by only a matter of metres. Neither suffered life-threatening injuries, although they were assessed by paramedics at the scene.
Police established a safety cordon while investigators examined the truck and the fallen load. Traffic in the southbound lanes of the Northern Expressway was significantly affected, with motorists urged to expect delays and use alternative routes where possible.
Authorities are investigating how the concrete slabs came loose, including whether the load had been properly secured before the journey. Officers will also examine whether any breaches of heavy vehicle safety regulations contributed to the incident.
The truck driver stopped at the scene and is assisting police with their inquiries. No arrests or charges have been announced.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation.
