Gas tanker tragedy: Driver is in fact in hospital

Following the LP gas tanker explosion in Plantation this morning, Ekurhuleni Mayor Tania Campbell and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi visited the site this afternoon.

In an earlier media statement, the mayor offered her sincere condolences to the families of victims.

“Our hearts go out to those who are seriously injured and who are being attended to by our emergency response teams. On behalf of the city, the office of the executive mayor commits itself to assisting all roleplayers in ensuring that a comprehensive investigation takes place and those who are liable are brought to book,” Campbell said.

The operational outsourcing services company whose driver was behind the wheel of the tanker that got stuck under the low-lying bridge in Hospital Road this afternoon confirmed the driver is not deceased but in hospital.

ISS Managing Director Arnoux Maré told Boksburg Advertiser their own specialist investigative team was en route and very close to where the tanker was stuck under the bridge when the explosion occurred. None of the team were injured.

He explained the truck belongs to the Infinite Group, a long-standing client of ISS.

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“While much of this tragic incident is unclear and unexplainable at this time, we do know that the truck driver contacted the control room when the vehicle got stuck under the bridge.

“What we have gathered is that the vehicle lodged under the bridge at 06:15. At around 06:45 a burn started on the truck and about 15 minutes later there was an explosion,” Maré said. “Judging by this, it is possible – but not confirmed – that the driver was not in the vehicle at the time of the explosion.”

Maré said they are unclear of the driver’s injuries at this stage.

“We initially heard the driver was treated for shock but that his condition deteriorated. Unconfirmed reports are that his condition is serious. We are in contact with the hospital where he is being treated.

“ISS’ internal investigation has already established that the driver is highly experienced, with a professional driving qualification in working at heights and seven years of experience in transporting hazardous materials. The driver had also recently passed a medical test confirming his fitness to drive.

“We also know the vehicle was roadworthy; in good condition and checked daily. It was inspected and released in good condition to be transporting the load of gas. What is unclear is what happened at the moment of the accident.”

According to Maré, the driver left from a designated truck stop in Boksburg en route to “the north” (which may have been cross-border). He had overnighted at the truck stop where he had eight hours sleep and a meal before embarking on the rest of his route.

He could not confirm for what reason the vehicle had taken the Hospital Road bridge route, adding all vehicles use GPS. “Perhaps he had been re-routed due to traffic,” Maré said. “We will speak to the driver to hear his version of events as soon as we are able to.”

The vehicle’s camera system was destroyed in the blast but the ISS specialised investigative team were on scene scouring for debris that can help the investigation.

Maré added they are fully co-operating with the authorities in their investigation.

“We believe the authorities acted swiftly and precisely in dealing with this incident and they have our full support,” he said.

“We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the families of the deceased, as well as to those who were injured. Our hearts truly go out to all victims of the explosion, and we would like to offer our complete reassurance that we are performing an urgent internal and independent investigation to determine the true cause of the accident.

“The health and safety of our employees, clients and the public is our top priority, and we are taking this incident extremely seriously.

“We are absolutely devastated that this has happened and have shared our sincere condolences with the families of the deceased, as well as those who were injured,” Maré concluded.

WHAT ELSE WE KNOW SO FAR: 

• Nine people are deceased.
• Tambo Memorial Hospital reported 37 casualties – 13 were staff members of the hospital. There were 16 priority one patients and 21 priority two patients. 36 patients were transfered to other facilities from Tambo Memorial.
• The hospitals A & E was extremely damaged in the explosion and several windows in other wards were damaged, including the ICU, and also the main kitchen.
• SAPS Provincial Commissioneer Elias Mawela said they have deployed the bomb squad to ascertain whether any further explosions are possible.
• K-9 units are on scene to search the rubble.
• The community of Plantation and surrounds have rallied around the victims and their families. Anyone who wants to support their efforts or make a donation that can assist the families, victims or hospital staff, can make contact with Urban Ruins, in Maple Avenue, Plantation (074 905 7269 / leigh@urbanruins.co.za).
• There has been a call for blood donations to assist the victims. Visit www.sanbs.co.za to find your nearest donor centre.
• Boksburg SPCA were on the ground going door to door to take care of animals affected by the explosion. Manager Vicky Finnemore said this afternoon they had found four strays and one dog with singed fur. They had not come across any badly injured animals at that stage but were looking for injured wildlife and birds too\

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