A truck driver was fortunate to escape serious injury after he lost control of his vehicle, crashed and spilled his load of timber logs in Co Clare this morning.
The incident resulted in the main N85 Ennis to Ennistymon route being closed for almost five hours after the truck and its cargo left the main route from Ennis to North Clare completely blocked.
The incident happened at around 9.30am at Mweelagarraun near Kilnamona. The truck was travelling towards Ennis when the incident occurred on a decline and bend.
A crash barrier, recently replaced following a previous incident, is believed to have stopped the truck ploughing down a steep embankment into a field and possibly a nearby river.
The truck came to a stop on its side with its consignment of timber spilled across the roadway.
Logs from the truck destroyed road signs and a telegraph pole while the truck also crushed a substantial section of the crash barrier.
It was also fortunate that the road where the collision occurred was relatively quiet at that time and that no other vehicle was involved.
Gardaí and National Ambulance Service paramedics responded to the incident along with units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennis station.
The driver was assessed at the scene by ambulance paramedics but was found to have been uninjured.
The road was closed and traffic diverted away from the area while heavy-lift trucks were brought in to deal with the incident. A crane was used to separate the trailers from the truck before hoisting the cab back onto its wheels.
Several other trucks were mobilised to remove the logs that had been spilled by the incident vehicle.
Clare County Council road crews also attended the scene and spent some time cleaning debris and engine fluids from the roadway before traffic was allow through again.
Traffic cones have been placed at the scene while motorists are still advised to exercise caution in the area.
The road was reopened at around 2.35pm.