Hundreds of vehicles were rendered immobile after a truck spilled approximately 750kg (1,653lbs) of sharp metal shards on one of Australia's busiest highways, resulting in widespread flat tyres. The incident occurred early Friday morning on the M1 Pacific Motorway near Ourimbah, located north of Sydney.
According to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, the truck with the unsecured load traveled for around 30km (18 miles) before the spillage was finally detected. This led to the closure of city-bound lanes for ten hours as authorities worked quickly to remove the hazardous debris from the roadway. Estimates suggest at least 300 cars were affected, including emergency vehicles that also received tyre damage.
Authorities utilized magnets and specialized equipment to handle the clean-up, rather than relying solely on traditional sweeping methods. "It's not just a case of getting a road sweeper out or guys and girls with brooms. We are using some magnetic devices. We are removing embedded metal in the highway itself. This takes a long time," stated New South Wales state highway patrol commander Howard Collins during a press conference.
State Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison described the scenario as "unprecedented," emphasizing that efforts were coordinated between government and private sector resources to expedite the clean-up process. "It's like trying to hoover up the highway. It's very difficult," she added, highlighting the challenges faced during this incident.
The truck driver, a 46-year-old man, is working with authorities during the investigation and has expressed regret over the incident. "We're taking full responsibility for what's happened and are very sorry for any damage and disruption that's been caused," said a representative from NJ Ashton, the company that owns the truck.
While investigations continue, officials are examining how the truck managed to travel such a distance with its load unsecured, leaving the community to deal with the aftermath of this unusual incident.
According to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, the truck with the unsecured load traveled for around 30km (18 miles) before the spillage was finally detected. This led to the closure of city-bound lanes for ten hours as authorities worked quickly to remove the hazardous debris from the roadway. Estimates suggest at least 300 cars were affected, including emergency vehicles that also received tyre damage.
Authorities utilized magnets and specialized equipment to handle the clean-up, rather than relying solely on traditional sweeping methods. "It's not just a case of getting a road sweeper out or guys and girls with brooms. We are using some magnetic devices. We are removing embedded metal in the highway itself. This takes a long time," stated New South Wales state highway patrol commander Howard Collins during a press conference.
State Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison described the scenario as "unprecedented," emphasizing that efforts were coordinated between government and private sector resources to expedite the clean-up process. "It's like trying to hoover up the highway. It's very difficult," she added, highlighting the challenges faced during this incident.
The truck driver, a 46-year-old man, is working with authorities during the investigation and has expressed regret over the incident. "We're taking full responsibility for what's happened and are very sorry for any damage and disruption that's been caused," said a representative from NJ Ashton, the company that owns the truck.
While investigations continue, officials are examining how the truck managed to travel such a distance with its load unsecured, leaving the community to deal with the aftermath of this unusual incident.
