Traffic was affected in Tai Po on Tuesday afternoon after a truck carrying scrap metal flipped over onto its side on Tai Wo Road.

Police said the accident happened shortly after noon when the truck, believed to be travelling at high speed, lost balance and tipped over while making a right turn from Po Heung Street.

Officers said the 33-year-old driver was trapped inside the truck cab at one point and was later freed by rescue workers. He was not injured.

The incident sparked a social media frenzy, after photos purportedly capturing the aftermath of the crash – where the driver could be seen casually having a smoke while waiting to be freed – went viral on the internet.