An army driver was left embarrassed after crashing a military vehicle into a service station, causing significant damage.
The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon at an Ampol service station in Sarina, a rural town south of Mackay in northern Queensland.
The MAN armored truck was part of a convoy of vehicles traveling from Brisbane to Townsville for Exercise Vigilant Scimitar.
The truck driver seemed inattentive and reportedly misjudged the height of the gas station’s roof and crashed into it.
Photos circulating on social media showed the truck wedged firmly under the collapsed roof in the front yard.
The support beams of the shattered roof and the fuel pumps that were hit by the truck were severely damaged.
A police spokeswoman said the two people in the truck managed to get out safely.
Photos circulating on social media show the servo as if it were in a war zone, with the truck firmly wedged under the collapsed roof.
Shattered roof support beams and fuel pumps have suffered serious damage following the impact of the truck.
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) spokesperson said servo staff cut power to the fuel line.
A police spokeswoman said two people were in the truck and managed to get out of the vehicle safely.
Service station personnel shut off power to the fuel line and the incident did not result in a fuel spill or possible fire.
A Department of Defense spokesperson said: “Defence is working with Queensland Police to secure the area and remove the vehicle from the scene.”
“The defense thanks the public for their understanding.”
An Ampol spokesman advised that engineers would determine the extent of the damage.
“A report will then be provided to the owner which will determine operational options for the site,” the spokesperson said.
The service station trades as Ampol but is not owned by the company.
The truck remained trapped overnight after the incident while the scene was assessed.
