SEREMBAN: Traffic on the north bound North-South Expressway was congested for five hours after a lorry carrying steel bars overturned at Km264.8 yesterday.

Only one lane was opened to traffic after the accident until a crane was used to remove the lorry and its load.

The accident happened at 9am while the driver was on his way to Kuala Lumpur. He lost control of the vehicle, causing it to slide into a drain and overturn.

A police spokesman said three cars travelling behind the lorry were damaged when they could not not stop in time and rammed into the steel bars on the road. The drivers suffered minor injuries.

"Luckily, a motorcyclist avoided a collision with the lorry," the spokesman said.
Traffic backed up almost 20km along the expressway. All three lanes were reopened to traffic about 2pm.