Backburn from veld fire next to N3 sets two trucks ablaze
Traffic had to be diverted onto the opposite side of the freeway
Two trucks involved in an accident because of thick smoke blowing across the N3 south on Tuesday night, were gutted after diesel from both trucks’ ruptured fuel tanks flowed into a burning grass fire.
Backburn took place, engulfing both vehicles in flames, said William Ntladi, spokesperson for Ekurhuleni emergency services.
He said crews from Zonkizizwe, Hlahatsi and Wadeville fire stations battled the flames at the accident scene just before Petroport outside Vosloorus just after 7pm.
“On arrival, the two truck horses were already crumbling because of the heat from the fire. Both drivers escaped without any harm. One driver said thick smoke, emitted from the grass fire burning next to the freeway, was blown across the road, obscuring their vision and subsequently, that led to the crash, said Ntladi.
“As per information on scene, the trucks burst into flames because of the ruptured fuel tanks from both trucks that led the diesel fuel to flow downstream to the burning grass, causing backburn.
Traffic had to be diverted onto the opposite side of the freeway, allowing one lane south and one lane north. The road was closed for the duration of the rehabilitation processes.
