A chain-reaction crash between three large trucks shut part of a northbound freeway in Miaoli on Thursday afternoon, injuring one driver but killing no one.

• Three big trucks slammed into each other in the northbound lane at the Zaoqiao stretch of National Highway 1 just before 2 p.m.
• One truck's cab was crushed, pinning the driver's legs until firefighters cut him free; he was taken to hospital with leg injuries and is not in danger.
• Police say the crash started when a driver failed to keep a safe following distance and rear-ended the truck ahead, pushing it into a third.
• The other two drivers were unhurt, and all tested clean for alcohol; the pinned driver will be tested at the hospital.
• The scene was cleared within about 40 minutes, and police urged drivers to keep their distance and rest when tired.

Outlook: The case now goes to the local highway police unit for a standard investigation, with no lasting traffic disruption expected.