Over 300 cars suffered flat tires after a truck accidentally spilled 750 kg of scrap metal, leading to prolonged road closures and a major cleanup operation.
Truck Spill Causes Chaos on Australian Highway with Hundreds Affected
Truck Spill Causes Chaos on Australian Highway with Hundreds Affected
A truck's spillage of sharp metal shards on the M1 Pacific Motorway led to extensive tire damage for many vehicles.
Hundreds of cars were left stranded with flat tires after a truck traveling along one of Australia's busiest highways spilled a staggering 750 kg (1,653 lbs) of sharp metal shards. The incident, which took place on the M1 Pacific Motorway near Ourimbah, north of Sydney, was detected only after the truck had traveled 30 km (18 miles). This tragic mishap forced city-bound lanes to shut down for several hours on Friday, leaving at least 300 vehicles damaged by the debris.
Authorities reported that some emergency vehicles also suffered tire damage due to the hazardous materials strewn across the road. The New South Wales Rural Fire Service confirmed that the truck lost its cargo at around 5 a.m. that morning, leading to significant debris on the highway.
After nearly 10 hours of closure, the M1 stretch reopened on Friday afternoon. NJ Ashton, the trucking company responsible for the vehicle, issued an apology and pledged its commitment to the recovery efforts. State police explained that specialized magnetic devices were deployed to help remove the stubborn metal remnants embedded in the roadway, as the cleanup was more complicated than simple sweeping operations.
New South Wales Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison described the incident as "unprecedented," highlighting the extensive government and private sector resources involved in the cleanup. The truck driver, a 46-year-old man, is cooperating with ongoing investigations, and NJ Ashton expressed regret for the disruption and damage caused, while still seeking clarity on how the spillage occurred.
Highway patrol commander Howard Collins remarked on the unusual nature of the event, emphasizing the difficulty of the cleanup task: "It's like trying to hoover up the highway." The M1 serves as a crucial route for freight and commuters alike, rendering this incident particularly troubling for many who rely on it daily.
