Sacred Moai statue on Easter Island destroyed by pickup truck

Moai statues at the Rapa Nui National Park in Easter Island in 2019. An accident has caused the destruction of one of the sacred statues. — JOHN MILNER/TNS

A privately owned pickup truck has destroyed one of Easter Island’s world-famous archaeological treasures – the imposing and mysterious Moai statues.

The vehicle, reportedly belonging to a Chilean man, slammed into the ancient stone monument in early March, reported Chilean newspaper, El Mercurio.