Truck driver cheats death in Coast crash

Photo gallery: A truck driver has had a miracle escape after he careered off the Bruce Highway.

Hervey Bay truck driver Andy Syson had a lucky escape after he blacked out on the Bruce Highway near Sippy Downs this morning.

A truck driver has had a miracle escape this morning after he careered off the Bruce Highway, missing huge trees, to land just short of a creek near Sippy Downs.

Andy Syson, 52, of Hervey Bay, who only had a few scratches on his face, said he 'blacked out' for some unknown reason just before 6am, with his truck veering off to the left of the south-bound lane of the highway.

His truck came to a rest in thick bushland just short of the waterway after taking out a light pole on the way through.

"I just passed out - blacked out,'' Mr Syson told thedaily.com.au at the crash scene.

"I have only passed out once before in the last 10 years - I don't like to make a habit of it,'' he said.

"I have been doing this run (Hervey Bay to the Gold Coast) for 20 years.''

He said fatigue had not been a factor at all as he had been home overnight, had a good sleep, and was 'fresh as a daisy'' after leaving Hervey Bay just before 2.30am this morning.

"It's not like I don't know the road, I've been doing it for 20 years every morning,'' he said.

Police and emergency crews were amazed the accident was not worse given the presence of large trees and power poles near where the truck crashed.

"I'm pretty lucky. I missed some pretty big trees,'' Mr Syson said.

"The truck is pretty demolished (though).''

Police were expected to one south-bound lane of the Bruce Highway just after 8am to retrieve the truck. The operation is expected to take about an hour with motorists urged to avoid the area altogether.

Truck crash near Sippy Downs

Originally published as Truck driver cheats death in Coast crash