A truck lost its load of iron rods on a hillside road in Taoyuan's Luzhu district, briefly snarling traffic in both directions, though nobody was hurt.

• The bars were not tied down properly and scattered across the lanes during a morning run toward Linkou.
• Other drivers had to slam on the brakes to avoid the debris and called police.
• Police kept one lane open for both directions until the supplier sent crews to clear the metal piece by piece.
• The driver was ticketed for the spill, an offense that can carry a fine of up to NT$18,000.

Outlook: Traffic is back to normal, and police are pressing drivers to secure loads properly to avoid similar hazards.