In a chaotic scene on the M1 Pacific Motorway near Ourimbah, New South Wales, officials reported that a truck spilled approximately 750 kg (1,653 lb) of sharp metal shards, leading to widespread tyre damage for at least 300 cars. The truck apparently traveled around 30 km (18 miles) before the spillage was detected early on Friday morning, prompting the closure of city-bound lanes for over 10 hours.
**Truck Spills Scrap Metal, Leaving Hundreds of Cars with Flat Tyres on Major Highway**
**Truck Spills Scrap Metal, Leaving Hundreds of Cars with Flat Tyres on Major Highway**
A significant incident on one of Australia’s major highways resulted in substantial disruption as hundreds of vehicles suffered flat tyres after a truck spilled a load of metal shards on the road.
Emergency services, including the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, responded quickly, noting extensive debris across the road. "A truck lost a load of scrap metal around 5 am this morning," a fire service spokesperson reported. State police confirmed that the affected section of the motorway was eventually reopened by Friday afternoon.
The trucking company, NJ Ashton, issued an apology and stated they are actively assisting with the clean-up operations. "We are taking full responsibility for what's happened and are very sorry for any damage and disruption that's been caused," the company said in a statement.
In response to the debris situation, highway patrol commander Howard Collins explained that their cleaning efforts included using magnets to remove the metal fragments deeply embedded in the highway surface. "It's like trying to hoover up the highway. It's very difficult," noted state roads minister Jenny Aitchison as she addressed the unprecedented nature of the incident.
Police confirmed that the 46-year-old driver of the truck is cooperating with the investigation, as authorities seek to understand how such a significant spillage occurred. As cleanup efforts continue, commuters have faced delays while ensuring the road's safety for future travel.
The trucking company, NJ Ashton, issued an apology and stated they are actively assisting with the clean-up operations. "We are taking full responsibility for what's happened and are very sorry for any damage and disruption that's been caused," the company said in a statement.
In response to the debris situation, highway patrol commander Howard Collins explained that their cleaning efforts included using magnets to remove the metal fragments deeply embedded in the highway surface. "It's like trying to hoover up the highway. It's very difficult," noted state roads minister Jenny Aitchison as she addressed the unprecedented nature of the incident.
Police confirmed that the 46-year-old driver of the truck is cooperating with the investigation, as authorities seek to understand how such a significant spillage occurred. As cleanup efforts continue, commuters have faced delays while ensuring the road's safety for future travel.
