Fuel tank bursts into flames after collision on N1 highway

A fuel tank has burst into flames on the N1 in Johannesburg on Friday, 17 February 2023, at around 11am.

According to Emer-G-Med, the tank caught alight after a collision on the N1 near the William Nicol offramp.

The tank was engulfed in flames. Emergency services attended to the scene.

Speaking to The Citizen, forensic accident investigator Stan Bezuidenhout said it was a mini fuel tanker, being pulled by a bakkie that caught alight.

“The cause of the burn can only be speculation at this time and the versions are its gasoline on a trailer [being pulled] by a bakkie,” said Bezuidenhout.

“If there was an explosion, it would have been minor – less severe than a tanker explosion.”

Emer-G-Med confirmed that one person was injured and was treated for moderate injuries before they were transported via ambulance to a nearby hospital for further care.

Traffic is severely affected as the road remains closed for clean-up operations.

Bezuidenhout added that the tanker broke off the trailer in the accident. He said, according to preliminary information, the tanker was travelling south, and flipped into the north bound lanes of the N1.

Additional reporting by Hein Kaiser