A truck spill on the M1 Pacific Motorway north of Sydney resulted in over 300 cars suffering flat tyres and extensive road closures for nearly 10 hours as authorities worked to clean up 750kg of scrap metal shards.
Road Chaos After Truck Spills Scrap Metal, Hundreds of Vehicles Affected
Road Chaos After Truck Spills Scrap Metal, Hundreds of Vehicles Affected
A significant incident on Australia's M1 Pacific Motorway leaves hundreds with flat tyres after a truck loses a substantial load of sharp metal debris.
Hundreds of vehicles found themselves stranded with flat tyres following a truck accident on one of Australia’s busiest highways, which involved the spillage of 750 kilograms (1,653 pounds) of sharp metal shards. The mishap occurred early Friday morning on the M1 Pacific Motorway, near Ourimbah, and reportedly caused the truck to travel for 30 kilometers (18 miles) before the dangerous debris was noticed.
Authorities confirmed that the incident led to the closure of city-bound lanes for several hours, affecting at least 300 cars and numerous emergency vehicles. The New South Wales Rural Fire Service responded, stating, “A truck lost a load of scrap metal around 5 a.m. this morning, causing extensive debris."
Traffic was able to resume on the M1 Friday afternoon after a lengthy closure lasting nearly ten hours. The trucking company, NJ Ashton, took responsibility for the incident, with the truck driver, a 46-year-old man, cooperating with the ongoing investigation. "We're 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.
State police reported that recovery efforts involved using magnetic devices to collect the scattered metal, as conventional road sweepers could not effectively manage the situation. State highway patrol commander Howard Collins noted the challenges posed by the extensive debris, saying it requires a more intricate approach than simply sweeping the road.
New South Wales roads minister Jenny Aitchison described the scenario as "unprecedented" and emphasized that both governmental and private resources were mobilized for the clean-up process. "It's like trying to hoover up the highway. It's very difficult," she remarked.
As they move forward with their inquiries, authorities continue to work diligently on restoring normalcy to one of the region’s critical transportation routes.
