A RUNAWAY trailer carrying an excavator has caused damage to a motel after breaking away from a truck.
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The incident occurred about 2pm on Wednesday, with the trailer running into a large pergola and bricks at the Paradise Palms Motel in Mulwala.
Owner Sophie Taylor said her husband Nick had been outside and heard a loud bang, like an explosion, in the impact.
“Luckily it was pretty clear – no-one was around,” she said.
Staff from the business that owned the trailer got the excavator off and helped with the clean-up.
“They took the trailer out with their truck,” Ms Taylor said.
“They actually helped to clean up a bit.”
She is waiting for an insurance assessor to attend the business.
The motel has remained open.
The impact caused extensive damage to the pergola at the front of the Melbourne Street business.
A large amount of debris, including wooden cladding, was scattered about the crash scene.
Ms Taylor said the trailer had also hit brickwork and left a crack.
The trailer, which came to rest only a few metres from the main entry to the hotel, was also damaged by the impact.
The crash occurred in a spot close to a fence next to the pool.
Ms Taylor joked online that she would buy a lottery ticket after the ordeal.
It took several hours for the scene to be cleared.