Snow Removal Truck Slides 100m Down Slope in Pas de la Casa

A snow removal truck slid backwards for around 100 metres down a steep slope at the Pas de la Casa this afternoon after overshooting a dumping point, but the driver escaped unharmed.

The incident occurred shortly before 1pm near the so-called "trampolí" – a regular winter site for offloading snow cleared from the village centre. The truck, loaded with snow collected by tractors using turbines in the town, had been heading to the esplanade just beyond the Gasopas petrol station, at the final bend before the lower urban area.

As the driver prepared to tip the load down the mountainside, the vehicle passed the boundary wall – likely obscured by the thick snow layer – and began sliding uncontrollably in reverse. Thanks to the soft snow accumulated this winter, the driver managed to keep the truck relatively stable and prevent it from overturning. The vehicle came to a stop after descending about 100 metres and remains in place pending safe recovery.

No injuries were reported, and any material damage to the truck appears minimal so far. Snow clearance teams, or police if required, will assess the exact causes, though the most likely explanation is that the snow buildup hid the retaining wall. Either the dump body had not yet been opened, or the driver regained control in time, averting a far more serious outcome. Efforts to retrieve the truck will depend on conditions at the remote spot.