CCTV has captured the moment a truck tyre exploded on Saturday, prompting residents to run to safety from flying debris.
A witness told 1News the truck started “playing up” and began to let out smoke from the back of the cab.
The driver pulled over and called Fire and Emergency New Zealand, but the truck was quickly engulfed in flames before they arrived.
Nearby property owners ran to help the driver to safety and attempted to dampen the flames with a garden hose, as well as protect their property and other vehicles.
Moments later, a tyre exploded, something witness Margie McAleese said was “very scary”.
“So the truck driver lives on the next street over from us and was heading home. Truck started playing up and then he saw a bit of smoke coming from back of cab then the breaks locked up which was right outside our place,” she said.
“Driver got out, called the fire brigade and asked my husband Dan to get a hose. By the time he was back with the hose, it had taken hold.
“Very scary and all very lucky they (Fire and Emergency) came when they did so they got it out before the fuel tanks blew.”
Her husband was using a hose on a car belonging to their Airbnb guest when the explosion occurred.
“It melted the back of the car and shattered the windscreen. Everyone thinks it will be written off.”
