Hundreds of drivers faced a stressful morning after a truck spilled a staggering 750kg (1,653lb) of sharp metal shards on one of Australia's busiest highways, the M1 Pacific Motorway. The debris was not detected for 30km (18 miles), leading to extensive damage to the tyres of over 300 vehicles, including emergency service trucks.
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service reported that the truck lost its load around 5 am, causing significant delays and resulting in the closure of city-bound lanes for roughly 10 hours. The road reopened later that afternoon.
The trucking company, NJ Ashton, expressed deep regret over the incident, stating they are cooperating with clean-up efforts. "We're very sorry for any damage and disruption that's been caused," they noted in their statement.
Authorities have deployed magnets and specialized equipment to remove embedded metal from the roadway, which state highway patrol commander Howard Collins described as "trying to hoover up the highway." He emphasized the challenge of the cleanup process.
As investigations continue, the truck driver, a 46-year-old man, is cooperating with police to understand how the spill occurred. The event is described as "unprecedented" by local officials, who are committed to ensuring road safety for travelers in New South Wales.
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service reported that the truck lost its load around 5 am, causing significant delays and resulting in the closure of city-bound lanes for roughly 10 hours. The road reopened later that afternoon.
The trucking company, NJ Ashton, expressed deep regret over the incident, stating they are cooperating with clean-up efforts. "We're very sorry for any damage and disruption that's been caused," they noted in their statement.
Authorities have deployed magnets and specialized equipment to remove embedded metal from the roadway, which state highway patrol commander Howard Collins described as "trying to hoover up the highway." He emphasized the challenge of the cleanup process.
As investigations continue, the truck driver, a 46-year-old man, is cooperating with police to understand how the spill occurred. The event is described as "unprecedented" by local officials, who are committed to ensuring road safety for travelers in New South Wales.
