The cleanup of the 400 litre diesel spill following an early-morning collision between a fuel truck and a Polo at the corner of Albertina Sisulu Road and Corlett Avenue has started at 10.30am.
The accident took place at approximately 3.30am on 12 February and JMPD with the assistance of the Witpoortjie Neighbourhood Watch closed off Albertina Sisulu Road between Generaal Pienaar Avenue and Corlett Avenue.
A cleanup team from the Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA) did arrive earlier but left again to fetch sand.
Sources that wanted to stay anonymous expressed their disappointment in JRA for taking nearly seven hours to start the cleanup.
Meanwhile the Witpoortjie Neighbourhood Watch members are still on the scene to redirect traffic. An unofficial source indicated that the cleanup would take “between two and three hours”.
Motorists are advised to take alternative routes.
400l diesel spilt after truck collision — 8am
Authorities had no option but to close a stretch of Albertina Sisulu Road following a collision between a light motor vehicle and truck during the early hours of Wednesday morning, 12 February.
According to Johnny Steynvaart of the Sector 2 Witpoortjie CPF, “A VW Polo travelling along Corlett Avenue collided with a truck (horse and trailer) transporting goods at the intersection of Albertina Sisulu and Corlett Avenue at around 3.30am.
“No injuries were reported.”
Although the matter is under investigation, Steynvaart said that the Polo made impact with the fuel tank of the truck. As a result, at least 400l of Diesel was spilt.
According to a Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officer on scene, “The road (from Albertina Sisulu up to Generaal Pienaar) will be closed for approximately two hours or, until the Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA) arrives to clean up the mess.
“Motorists can easily lose control of their vehicle considering the road is covered in Diesel.”
Witnesses at the scene also told the Record that the driver of the Polo is allegedly a JMPD reservist and that he was late for work.
