Burning cargo on truck causes havoc on the N12 east
The road was partially opened around 5pm, while the other lanes were only opened around midnight.
A section of the N12 east at the Snake Road off-ramp had to be closed on Monday afternoon when the load of a truck caught fire.
Dense smoke from the burning cardboard filled the air, forcing authorities to close the east bound section of the highway for clean-up operations.
Ekurhuleni emergency services were alerted about the burning cargo at 1.30pm. Firefighters from Benoni central and Rynfield fire stations responded to the scene, said William Ntladi, spokesperson for the services.
“On arrival, an articulating truck loaded with cardboard, parked on the road island, was well alight and producing heavy smoke which partially obscured vision of motorists. Fortunately the driver managed to uncouple the horse (truck), leaving the trailer and the load to burn,” Ntladi said.
As per information on scene, the driver was alerted by other motorists who drove past him that the load was on fire. After stopping, both he and his assistant tried to extinguish the blaze using fire extinguishers from the truck but failed due to its intensity.
Water had to be shuttled to the scene with fire engines. No casualties were recorded.
The road was partially opened around 5pm, while the other lanes were only opened around midnight.
