Tshwane EMS debunks burning car on social media as scam
“It was a billboard made of shipping containers that was on fire. Five containers burned and were extinguished by firefighters while 20 were saved.”
Tshwane emergency service has rubbished claims that a car burned down on the N1 towards Botha Avenue.
Emergency services spokesperson Charles Mabaso said the picture circulating on social media purporting to be that of the burning car, was fake.
“It was a billboard made of shipping containers that was on fire. Five containers burned and were extinguished by firefighters while 20 were saved,” Mabaso added.
“The incident occurred on the N1 north near the Botha Avenue at approximately 10:39. The cause of the fire is suspected to be a bush/grass fire.”
Mabaso told Rekord that the incident didn’t interrupt the flow of traffic as it happened past peak hours.
“Traffic on the N1 was not adversely affected by the fire.”
The picture of the burning container in the middle of the road caused a stir on social media but the emergency services was quick to put it out.
The stretch of the road is no stranger to freak incidents.
In 2017, paramedics attended to a serious collision there in which a driver lost control of his SUV, spun out and crashed into the back of a petrol tanker – leaving him entrapped within the wreckage.
According to the Arrive-Alive statement, paramedics said the patient sustained multiple injuries and was in a critical but stable condition.
“Paramedics found that the patient had sustained multiple injuries and was in a critical but stable condition.”
Paramedics immediately initiated advanced life support care, while Tshwane metro fire and rescue used the jaws of life to cut him free. The patient was further stabilised before being rushed to a nearby Level 1 trauma unit for further management,” the statement read.
** UPDATE: According to reports there was a burning car in Johannesburg on the same day in another incident.
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