DURBAN - A truck carrying a load of oranges caught alight on the N3 Eastbound Orthman Road off-ramp on Monday.
The Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) suspected that the brake lining could have caught alight. The flames spread to the cargo of oranges.
RTI spokesperson Zinhle Mngomezulu said the truck had been travelling from Johannesburg to Durban.
“It caught alight by the trailer, the problem was with the brakes. It was not set alight. There were no injuries reported,” said Mngomezulu.
A picture of the burning truck was shared on a Facebook group where other truck drivers weighed in on what could have happened.
Sbo Fowh Heaven wrote that that had become a norm and added that last week in Mfekayi, in the uMkhanyakude District Municipality, a truck’s carriage caught alight.
“The problem starts in the drums of the wheel they bind and it becomes hot and a fire then starts. This is hard evidence that trailers do not get serviced.”
Thembi Buthelezi Hillbrow wrote that it was a relief that the driver had escaped with his life.
“I feel for the owner of the truck.”
Back in March a tanker caught alight on the N3.
Emergency services dashed to the scene and were containing the blaze.
“All lanes of the N3 Toll Route on Van Reenen’s Pass are currently closed to traffic due to a serious crash incident involving two trucks which are on fire,” the N3TC which manages the freeway said in a statement.
Daily News