Hundreds of cars were left stranded with flat tyres after a truck carrying 750kg (1,653lb) of sharp metal shards spilled its load on the M1 Pacific Motorway near Ourimbah, north of Sydney. The truck traveled for 30km (18 miles) before authorities realized what had happened.
The incident, which occurred around 5am, led to the closure of city-bound lanes for almost 10 hours, impacting not just commuters but also emergency services vehicles that suffered damage.
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service reported that clean-up efforts are complicated, involving magnets to remove metal debris embedded in the highway. State roads minister Jenny Aitchison described the situation as "unprecedented" and noted the challenges of removing the remnants from the road.
The trucking company, NJ Ashton, expressed remorse for the incident and stated they are assisting with recovery efforts while the truck driver is cooperating with ongoing inquiries. The cause of the spill is still being investigated, as officials aim to restore normal traffic flow.
The incident, which occurred around 5am, led to the closure of city-bound lanes for almost 10 hours, impacting not just commuters but also emergency services vehicles that suffered damage.
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service reported that clean-up efforts are complicated, involving magnets to remove metal debris embedded in the highway. State roads minister Jenny Aitchison described the situation as "unprecedented" and noted the challenges of removing the remnants from the road.
The trucking company, NJ Ashton, expressed remorse for the incident and stated they are assisting with recovery efforts while the truck driver is cooperating with ongoing inquiries. The cause of the spill is still being investigated, as officials aim to restore normal traffic flow.
