Truck driver crashed into gravel pile after suspected brake failure on South-Eastern Freeway

A truck driver has avoided potential disaster on the South-Eastern Freeway by ramming into a gravel pile after a suspected brake failure.

A quick-thinking truck driver has veered off the South Eastern Freeway into a pile of gravel after a suspected brake failure.

The truck stopped in the gravel pile, set aside for resurfacing works along the freeway, just below the Heysen Tunnel on Wednesday morning.

A truckie ploughed into a pile of gravel near the Heysen Tunnels on the South-Eastern Adelaide freeway. Picture: 7 News Adelaide

The truck driver headed for the pile of gravel when he lost control. Picture: Supplied

The truck buried in the pile of gravel. Picture: 7 News Adelaide

The driver, 60, sustained minor injuries and was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Police are investigating whether brake failure or driver error is to blame.

Drivers of heavy vehicles are required by law to use low gear as they descend into Adelaide. The law and a second gravel arrester bed were put in place after a series of serious accidents involving brake failures.

The South-Eastern Freeway has been the site of several delays after crashes, rollovers broken-down trucks over the past few months, one that caused peak-hour chaos for hours in April, and another crash between two cars and a motorcycle that killed the rider.

This week, Transport Minister Corey Wingard ruled out a rail line to the Hills.

In February, a koala caused a six-car pileup, while last year a truck fire killed about 2000 chickens and caused hours of delays.