The 60-year-old Harden man was driving a semi-trailer through Blayney when an unusual set of circumstances led to him crashing his truck outside the hospital.

Chifley Police District Duty Officer Inspector David Abercrombie said the driver stopped his vehicle to adjust the straps on his load when an incident occurred.

“At about 8pm a 60-year-old driver of a semi-trailer had stopped his vehicle to tighten the strap on his load when something happened,” he said.

“The ratchet mechanism that he was working with has come free and caused him to smash his face onto the tray of the truck.

“This has caused him significant injury to his face and neck.”

Inspector Abercrombie said the man then decided to drive himself up the road to the Blayney Hospital.

“He drove himself from the Mid Western Highway to Osman Street Blayney, which is directly outside the hospital, when the top of his truck collided with a large tree branch causing it to drop down between the prime mover and the trailer,” he said.

“The tree, which was about 20 metres in length, completely blocked Osman Street.”

Inspector Abercrombie said the driver was then helped into the hospital by a passer-by.

The driver was later transferred to Bathurst Hospital.

“He has severe lacerations to his face and possible spinal injuries,” Inspector Abercrombie said.