The driver of the contract truck, which lost its load on the N17 highway this morning, is the packer and not the driver.
The truck landed in the reeds next to the highway, between Wit Road and Tonk Meter turn off, Springs, and traffic came to a stand still for several hours.
According to Kobedi Mokheseng, Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) spokesperson, they arrived on the scene at 5.20am.
Mokheseng claims the driver was on his way to work in Springs, when he noticed his truck passing him in the opposite direction towards Boksburg.
He believes the man driving the truck saw him, got a fright and lost control of the truck.
The load was destined to be delivered to Boksburg today.
Mokheseng says the man sustained minor injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
It is believed he doesn’t have a driver’s licence.
Mokheseng says the driver will be fined R2 000 and charged with driving without a licence.
He says people driving without a valid driver’s licence can cause accidents where people can lose the lives.
Residents were coming to the scene in numbers to collect the cans of beer that fell off the truck.
One witness said a truck stopped dead in front of her vehicle before he pulled off the highway to collect beer cans.
The EMPD officials had their hands full trying to control people.
One of the officials told the Addie she is surprised that even the tow trucks left the scene with beer loaded into their vehicles.
A cable and thick chain linked between the truck and a tow truck were used to pull the truck out of the ditch next to the N17.
Traffic was redirected by EMPD officials and the road was cleared several hours later.
The owner of the truck decline to speak to the Addie when contacted for comment.
Watch the video on how the truck was pulled from the reeds.
