SMASHING was the operative word after a truck carrying sound and light equipment for an American rock band rolled on the Western Highway near Wail yesterday.
The equipment was for a Smashing Pumpkins concert to be staged at Festival Hall in Melbourne tonight.
The semi-trailer was travelling from Adelaide to Melbourne when the single-vehicle accident occurred at 6.30am.
Rural Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullin said the driver, a Ballarat man, 47, was taken to Wimmera Base Hospital in a stable condition with a laceration to the head.
"He was later taken transferred by road ambulance to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, with possible spinal injuries," he said.
Leading Constable Heath Martin, of Horsham Traffic Management Unit, said police were still investigating the accident but said fatigue was a possible cause why the truck veered to the wrong side of the road.
"The truck came off the road and the driver tried to correct but the truck rolled over," he said.
Const Martin said the highway was closed to one lane for five hours.
"Horsham TMU and police, SES and CFA from Dimboola all attended the accident to help with the clean-up," he said.
Michael Coppel Presents publicist Fiona Lakin confirmed the hired sound equipment was for the Smashing Pumpkins.
"The equipment has now been brought to Melbourne where it will be assessed and replaced if needed," she said yesterday.
Ms Lakin said the concert would go on as planned.
She said band members were aware of the accident but because the equipment was hired, they were not unduly worried.
"It might be different if it was their personal effects," she said.