Emergency services had a sticky situation to deal with yesterday after a truck crash spread molasses along State Highway 1 at Otaio, between Waimate and Timaru.
Sergeant Mike van der Heyden, of Waimate, said police, Fire Service and ambulance personnel were called out about 10.30am after the truck and trailer, carrying about 24 tonnes of molasses, ran off the side of the road shortly after crossing a bridge just north of the Otago Hall.
It rolled, spreading molasses along the northbound lane of the highway and the side of the road.
A passing motorist smashed the window of the truck to help the driver escape from the damaged cab.
The 50-year-old Timaru truck driver had a shoulder injury and "bumps and bruises" from being tossed violently around inside the cab.
He was taken to Timaru Hospital for treatment and a check-up, Sgt van der Hayden said.
The crash broke taps which caused the molasses to leak out.
It was left on the road so it could be sucked up, with the remainder being hosed away.
"Apparently, that's the easiest way to handle it. Adding water would have just made it run away.
"There'll be some cows jumping fences tonight," he joked.
Initially, traffic was allowed through using the southbound lane. After about 45 minutes, a detour using roads to the west of the crash site was used for light traffic, while heavy traffic which could not use it continued along one lane of SH1.
Cranes were brought in to remove the truck and trailer.
