Truckie who allegedly had his rig hijacked by a gun-wielding man who forced him to block a major highway reveals the very Aussie way he de-stressed after the ordeal
A truck driver who was allegedly held at gunpoint and ordered to block a major highway with his vehicle has revealed he “calmed his nerves” after his terrifying ordeal in the time-honored Australian tradition of drinking a few beers.
Dallas Beck was driving his semi-trailer on Queensland’s Bruce Highway on Wednesday when he was suddenly forced to stop by a man allegedly wielding a gun.
Mr Beck was on his way to Noosa to pick up some scrap metal when he saw a driver in an SUV driving dangerously on the road in front of him.
The truck driver said he then saw the driver of the vehicle in the middle of the road before the man waved him down and allegedly pointed a gun at his truck.
The man allegedly ordered Mr Beck to block the highway with his truck before telling him to get out of the vehicle.
Dallas Beck (pictured) said he decided to ‘calm the nerves’ with some cold ones after his truck was allegedly hijacked by a man on the Bruce Highway on Wednesday
The incident sparked a wild police chase with around 20 vehicles and a helicopter deployed before Shaun Michael Roberts finally surrendered to a negotiator two hours later.
The 39-year-old man from Mountain Creek near the Sunshine Coast was taken into custody and charged with 14 offences, including armed robbery, possession of an unlawful weapon and dangerous driving.
Mr Beck, who was offered counseling after his terrifying ordeal, opted for a cold instead.
βI was thinking of a few cold beers to calm the nerves,β he said after describing his anxiety during the incident.
Mr Beck is said to have been ordered to block the highway with his vehicle (pictured) after a man allegedly threatened him at gunpoint
Earlier, dramatic dashcam footage captured the two-lane highway being closed by the truck.
The driver of the SUV was caught on camera driving erratically and at one point allegedly crossed onto the wrong side of the road and entered several medians.
The man drove between several motorists towards oncoming traffic, which caused chaotic scenes on the highway.
It is alleged Roberts led police on the chase from Doonan after officers were called to an address in Mountain Creek at 11.35am on Wednesday following reports of an alleged domestic violence incident.
Roberts was refused bail and faced the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Thursday.