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Terrifying moment boulder crushes lorry before rockfall slams into second truck

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The tragedy was captured on film
The tragedy was captured on film

AN UNSUSPECTING lorry driver appeared terrified as a cascade of rocks hurtled down a mountain and onto his vehicle.

Chilling footage showed a giant boulder tumble from above and crush a lorry before rockfall slammed into a second truck.

Moment a giant boulder crushes a lorry in the horrific landslide qhiddzideeihdprw
Moment a giant boulder crushes a lorry in the horrific landslideCredit: Jam Press Vid
The truck was completely destroyed by the massive hit
The truck was completely destroyed by the massive hitCredit: Jam Press Vid
Another giant rock slid down the mountain in front of the second truck
Another giant rock slid down the mountain in front of the second truckCredit: Jam Press Vid
Dashcam footage shows the driver promptly escaping the cabin
Dashcam footage shows the driver promptly escaping the cabinCredit: Jam Press Vid
Picture of the aftermath of the terrifying incident
Picture of the aftermath of the terrifying incidentCredit: Jam Press Vid

The tragedy unfolded on Central Highway in San Mateo, northeast of Lima in Peru, on Saturday.

Video filmed by a truck's dashcam showed the heart-stopping moment a massive rock broke away from the mountain, fell, and landed on the HGV driving ahead of it.

The boulder, which was about the size of a lorry itself, completely crushed the truck.

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Moments later, another rock fell on top of the truck that was recording - it too was destroyed.

Smaller rocks continued rolling down the hill and slammed into the road, blocking traffic in the area infamous for devastating rockfall.

Other video recorded in the truck's cabin showed the moment a driver realised what was happening.

He was seen ripping off his seatbelt and jumping out of the truck mere seconds before it was crushed by rocks.

Both lorry drivers miraculously survived, but the trucks and their cargo was ruined.

The road was heavily damaged and blocked by the landslide.

It took authorities about four hours to clear the section of the mountain road.

Photographs of the aftermath showed dozens of huge rocks littering the highway alongside the wreckage of the two crushed lorries.

One picture showed the wheel of one truck lying on the road with other crushed parts.

Officials said heavy rainfall destabilised the ground in the area, which likely led to the horrific landslide.

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Investigations are continuing.

A witness said: "The lorry driver’s reaction was very quick, I think I would have frozen."

Watching the clip of the accident, one viewer said: "When it's not your turn [to die]..."

Another wrote: "Another reason to always wear your seatbelt,” wrote someone else."

Dozens of huge rocks littered the highway alongside the wreckage of the two crushed lorries
Dozens of huge rocks littered the highway alongside the wreckage of the two crushed lorriesCredit: Jam Press Vid
The wheel of one truck lying on the road with other crushed parts
The wheel of one truck lying on the road with other crushed partsCredit: Jam Press Vid
Locals taking a look at the incident
Locals taking a look at the incidentCredit: Jam Press Vid

Sayan Bose

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