One of the NZSki truck drivers managed to survive after witnessing a terrible accident, which occurred as his grit truck went out of the way, falling into a drain near the Coronet Peak Ski Area base building, yesterday.

As reported by Constable Phil Hamlin, the accident took place at around 7a. m.

“It appears the driver's been reversing the truck into an area and with the icy, snowy morning, it has skidded and one of the wheels slipped off the side”, he told.

The truck was carrying tones of grit. The entire load fell off the gully in the accident.

The driver received very few injuries. He was assisted by ski patrol and later the ambulance was brought to the Lakes District Hospital.

NZSki Chief Executive, James Coddington said that the accident brought immense surprise to him. He said that the trucks have been designed in a typical way to run easily on snowy tracks.

The driver was freed from the hospital at 11a. m. yesterday after he received treatment for the injuries.

James said that the driver has been serving in the Company since the last 5 years. The accident has disturbed him badly, he added.