Flat Tyres Galore: Truck Spills Scrap Metal on Busy Highway

In a shocking incident on Friday morning, numerous vehicles incurred flat tyres after a truck spilled approximately 750 kilograms of sharp metal shards along the M1 Pacific Motorway near Ourimbah, north of Sydney. Reports indicate that the truck transported the debris over a distance of 30 kilometers (18 miles) before authorities were alerted to the dangerous situation. The ensuing chaos led to the closure of city-bound lanes for about ten hours, with at least 300 cars, including some emergency vehicles, suffering significant tyre damage.

The New South Wales Rural Fire Service confirmed that the truck lost its load around 5 AM, prompting an immediate response to mitigate the aftermath. Utilizing magnets and other tools to gather the embedded metal shards from the highway, state highway patrol commander Howard Collins highlighted the complexity of the cleanup: "It's not just a case of getting a road sweeper out...this takes a long time."

The trucking company, NJ Ashton, has expressed regret and is currently assisting clean-up efforts. State roads minister Jenny Aitchison labeled the incident "unprecedented," emphasizing the government's commitment to restoring the vital commuter route. Meanwhile, local police are investigating the truck driver, a 46-year-old man who is cooperating fully. As they work to piece together how such a large spillage occurred, drivers in the area are left to deal with the lingering effects of the accident.