Three trucks burnt, stretch of N3 highway temporarily closed to traffic
DEMS responds to truck fire on N3 highway.
Three articulated trucks torched on the N3 highway northbound, opposite Vosloorus in Boksburg, on Sunday night, have negatively impacted traffic flow this morning, forcing officials to close the northbound carriageway until all rehabilitation and clean-up operations have been completed.
Firefighters from Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS), specifically from the Vosloorus Fire Station, received the call at 10.27pm on Sunday night and swiftly responded to the scene for intervention.
“Upon arrival, a multi-load articulated truck was already engulfed in flames and while busy with fire suppression, about 200m down the freeway, another two trucks burst into flames, leaving the entire section of the freeway under a dense cloud of carbon smoke,” said William Ntladi, district manager media liaison for DEMS.
ALSO READ:
Jaws of Life used to free woman trapped in car on N12 highway
DEMS races to motorcycle crash in Primrose
Backup from both the Wadeville and Zonkizizwe fire stations was sent to the scene.
“The firefighters managed to salvage the two trailers of the third truck from the raging blaze.
“From the initial and the second truck, nothing could be saved because of the intensity, volatility and magnitude of the fire,” said Ntladi.
“During active fire suppression operations, the northbound carriageway of the highway had to be closed to traffic as all three trucks were in the middle of the road.
“The drivers were not found on scene and their whereabouts are still unknown.
“Traffic had to be diverted from the R550 Kliprivier off-ramp towards the R103 Heidelberg Road leading to the Barry Marais Road on-ramp to N3 north.”
No casualties were recorded on scene and the reason for the torching is still a subject of investigation by law enforcement units.
Have a story?
Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za.
Also follow us on:
