A truck has brought down power lines in Sydney’s south, wiping out electricity to at least 170 properties and businesses before it caught alight.
The truck was heading down Botany Road in Waterloo just after midday before it took out a row of power lines and a tree.
It was captured on CCTV as it veered sharply onto the footpath and into power poles, sending sparks flying before it caught alight.
“All of a sudden we heard a bang, a big noise,” witness Frankie Huo said.
”All the lights (were) flashing for 5 to 10 seconds… (then) after five minutes it starts (catching) on fire.
An e-bike rider narrowly missed being electrocuted by a rough powerline, while the 46-year-old truck driver made it out mostly unscathed.
He was taken to the Prince Alfred Hospital for a mandatory check-up.
More than 170 homes and businesses in the area lost power at the time of the crash, according to Ausgrid.
Some of them have still not been reconnected.
Huo said it was “very lucky” that no one was hurt, as the area was bust with foot traffic at the time of the crash.
A section of Botany Road, between Bourke Road and Mandible Street, is still closed as workers try to repair the power lines.