The leopard attacked Kannojkumar of Kolkatta, driving the lorry ladden with empty liquor bottles to Coimbatore from Andhra Pradesh, around 2 am at a hairpin bend when the vehicle came to a halt as it ran out of fuel.
He, however, managed to climb atop the lorry and some other vehicles approached the area from the opposite direction.
Seeing the brightness of the vehicle lights , the leopard ran into nearby bush.
Forest officials carried out a search in the area but were unable to trace the leopard, police said.
Four persons had been killed by wild animals in the ghat road last year, following which vehicle drivers were cautioned to avoid the stretch in the night time.