Startled motorists gaped to see a flat top truck with one of its crane legs extended slam over a set of traffic lights at a busy Maitland intersection yesterday.

Police said the truck then drove through the intersection but stopped a short time later when its crane leg allegedly struck a parked car. The accident happened shortly after 6am when a truck carrying signs stopped at traffic lights at the intersection of Ken Tubman Drive and High Street.

“About 6.10am, the traffic lights flashed green and the truck went through the intersection,” police said.

“But the truck’s one crane leg was extended on the driver’s side as he drove past and it struck the traffic lights, bending them back.”

The impact smashed the lights on to the side of the road.

The driver later told police he had felt a bump but thought his vehicle had struck the median strip, the spokesman said.

“The truck then continued through the intersection and continued on the Bolwarra Road to Lorn,” he said. “The truck’s crane arm then allegedly struck a parked vehicle, damaging its front end.

“The driver stopped immediately and was spoken to by officers,” the spokesman said.

Police said a 40-year-old Wagga Wagga man was given an infringement notice.