The N12 at Comaro Road in Bassonia has fully reopened to traffic after being shut down for most of Sunday following a fatal crash and tanker fire.

Motorists can now travel in both directions after emergency services concluded a complex and high-risk operation to secure the scene.

According to Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) spokesperson Xolani Fihla, teams completed the decanting of the gas tanker and conducted thorough mop-up operations before declaring the roadway safe for public use. All earlier diversions at the R59 Reading Interchange and Comaro Road have since been lifted.

The closure followed a Sunday morning incident in which a light motor vehicle crashed into the rear of a stationary LPG gas tanker on the N12 westbound, sparking a fire. The driver of the vehicle died at the scene.

Authorities confirmed that the tanker driver was not injured.

At the time, the road was closed in both directions as emergency crews battled the blaze and cooled the tanker due to the volatile nature of its cargo.

Fihla commended the response teams for their efforts under dangerous conditions.

“We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the dedicated teams who worked tirelessly under hazardous conditions to secure the scene. We also thank the public and residents of the southern suburbs for their patience and cooperation while these essential operations were carried out,” he said.

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