Tanker Lorry Bursts Into Flames On Motorway

Story By: John Feng, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

Video Credit: AsiaWire

This is the moment a tanker lorry carrying 30 tonnes of methanol bursts into flames after overturning on a motorway when it clipped a car that veered in front of it in an apparent bid to reach a slipway.

Dramatic footage from the Hefei Ring Expressway in East China’s Anhui Province shows the tanker lorry driver losing control of the vehicle while trying to avoid a white saloon car.

The smaller vehicle appears to cut into the lorry’s path by crossing a solid white line towards a motorway slip road.

Picture Credits: AsiaWire

The tanker lorry driver has little time to react and ends up clipping the back of the small car, sending it spinning on the motorway.

The lorry carrying 30 tonnes of methanol then overturns near the slip road, immediately igniting the highly flammable cargo in its tank.

In the distress video, the smaller white can can then be seen rolling towards the burning lorry, with the driver apparently incapacitated by the initial crash.

Authorities say two occupants inside the lorry as well as the saloon car owner all escaped the wreckage and are not in life-threatening condition.

However, the lorry occupants suffered more serious injuries and are still receiving treatment, while the saloon car driver escaped with minor injuries.

Both vehicles were seen burning on the motorway before the fire service doused the blaze, revealing two charred metal shells.

The police are still investigating the accident.