An 82-year-old-truck driver has caused €80,000-worth of damage after leaving his vehicle to ask for directions on Castroper Strasse in Herne. He forgot to put the handbrake on, which saw his vehicle fall back down the street before hitting three cars and an advertising billboard.
The veteran trucker was driving his 26-ton vehicle in the Vossnacken area of Herne when he got out of his cab at a junction to ask another driver for directions while there was a red light.
However, he forgot to use his handbrake, and the truck moved down Castroper Strasse in the direction of Handwerken Strasse.
The driver dashed to get back into the cab, but fell and injured himself. He later had to be taken to a hospital in an ambulance.
As the truck moved uncontrollably down the street, it first collided with a car, before knocking over an advertising sign and damaging another 2 cars.
The HGV eventually came to standstill after travelling 150 metres and causing damage estimated at around 80,000 euros.
The traffic commissioner has initiated an investigation regarding the incident.
Photo credit: DAF