WATCH: Truck fire causes delays on N12 Westbound before Comaro Street
There are no casualties reported on site. However, the road is experiencing high-density traffic.
UPDATE: 12:30
Westbound traffic on N12 remains backed up as recovery efforts continue. Despite ongoing work to clear the congestion, the situation has yet to improve, causing delays for motorists.
BREAKING NEWS:
The N12 freeway road is experiencing high-density traffic as a delivery truck carrying a 12m long container caught fire in the early hours of Monday morning on the N12 freeway westbound before Comaro Street.
The truck was on its way to deliver boxes of rubber suspension airbags to Maraisburg when it caught alight at 06:00 causing the blocking of four lanes on the N12 freeway.
According to William Ntladi, DEMS spokesperson, the City of Ekurhuleni Fire Services received a call at exactly 07:00 informing them of the incident, and firefighting crews from Alberton Fire Station swiftly responded to the scene.
“On our arrival, the container fully loaded with truck parts was burning. Fire suppression was initiated using water directly from the fire engines. We realised we needed more water and therefore, backup was requested from neighbouring fire stations,” said Ntladi.
Ntladi said the cause of the fire is unknown. There are no casualties.
“The actual cause of the fire is still unknown, but the preliminary investigation shows that the brake lining system of the trailer binded and through friction, flames erupted,” said Ntladi.
Ntladi has confirmed that the firefighting is still ongoing.
The truck driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to the nearest hospital. Ntladi stated two lanes were opened around 12:00 to ease traffic flow.
