Dramatic scenes unfolded on the N1 highway between William Nicol and Malibongwe Drive in Johannesburg, on Friday, when a motorist carrying a fuel tank on a trailer collided with another vehicle, causing an explosion.
Fuel tanker explosion: Latest updates from N1 between William Nicol and Malibongwe
Emer-G-Med paramedics and traffic officials rushed to cordon off an area of the N1 highway just before midday after reports of a fiery collision surfaced.
In a statement to IOL News, Emer-G-Med spokesperson, Kyle van Reenen, confirmed that while the fuel tanker explosion halted traffic on the busy route, only one person was treated for moderate injuries on site and taken to a nearby hospital for further care.
“Traffic in the area is severely affected as the roadway remains closed for clean up operations,” van Reenen said.
Here is footage of the N1 explosion that occurred between William Nicole and Malibongwe Drive on Friday morning:
Friday’s tanker scare comes less than two months after a total of 34 victims were brutally killed in a similar explosion that took place in Boksburg.
A trucker driving a multi-ton gas tanker forced his way into an underpass with height capacity limits and, according to experts, the friction caused a leak and, ultimately, the deadly explosion that claimed innocent lives.
While the trucker miraculously survived the ordeal, he has yet to face any culpability in the mass deaths. From what we understand, the gas tank driver was released from police custody soon after the incident, but still faces the prospect of getting charged with negligent and reckless driving.
Details on the clean-up efforts on the N1 highway between William Nicol and Malibongwe Drive were still sketchy at the time this article was published.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area at all costs.
This a developing story.