Police will investigate a case of reckless and negligent driving after a diesel tanker crashed on the N12 highway in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The crash comes in wake of the gas tanker explosion in Boksburg on December 24, which claimed the lives of 34 people and left many other injured. The tanker exploded after being stuck under a low-lying bridge.
Xolani Fihla, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) spokesperson said the preliminary information they received, the tanker crashed and landed on the embankment next to the N12 East.
“Two people were driving in a diesel tanker when it hit the bridge. One was rushed off to hospital,” Fihla said.
“One male passenger sustained serious injuries and had to be airlifted to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. Both the driver and passenger were trapped inside the vehicle, and they had to be extricated.”
“Hazmat technicians are on the scene to contain the petrol spillage and Emergency Management Services (EMS) is also on the scene for the extraction of the driver of the vehicle.
Fihla said the crash resulted in road closure on the N12 East at Xavier Street, and N12 West at Comaro Road.
Additionally, the Kliprivier Drive was closed in both directions between the N12 West and N12 East exit.
Fihla advised motorists to divert off the N12 East onto the Kliprivier Drive exit and back onto the N12 East.
“A case of reckless and negligent driving will be opened at Mondeor SAPS for further investigation.”
Source: Times Live, The Citizen, News24, image from Twitter: @JoburgMPD
