Grey nomads were among those whose travel plans were thrown into chaos when the third trailer of a road train carrying ammonium nitrate rolled on the Great Northern Highway in remote Western Australia yesterday.
The road was closed most of the day following the dramatic accident 150 kilometres north of Meekatharra. The driver was not injured in the crash, but the crystal-like chemical spilled all over the road, sparking a major clean-up operation.
Police from Newman and Meekatharra attended the scene, with assistance from DFES and the Department of Petroleum and Mines.
In a separate incident, a road train carrying four trailers of copper concentrate has driven into the Malbon River about 56 kilometres south of Cloncurry in Queensland this morning. It is thought there had been water across the bridge the truck was crossing.
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Service spokeswoman said there were currently no leaks in the tankers, although they were concerned about the fuel tanks rupturing when they eventually pull the truck out.
The driver was apparently forced to cling to a tree for several hours before swift water rescue was able to pluck him from the river. He was taken to Cloncurry Hospital with minor injuries.
·        Do you get nervous when you see a road train heading towards you? Have you ever had a ‘too-close’ encounter with one of them? Comment below.
Last year travelling North and 40 Kl from Winton a road train came head on to us and only seconds before collision did he swerve to his own side of the road. His trailers were swaying everywhere. We had no where to go as there was a big ditch on our side of the road and a car following the truck. A very scary moment, we would certainly have been killed if he had hit us. We spoke to police about it the next day and their comment was it happens too often. Unfortunately we did not get his number plate as we were too shaken up
Just remember ammonium nitrate is a fertilizer but also an explosive when mixed with something else like diesel, petrol or something else. A truck rolled over in Queensland a few years back and leaking diesel mixed with the load. It went bang big time, also blew a bridge so there was nothing of it. Lucky it was in the country. Persons sheltering and expecting an explosion now suffer hearing loss but are alive. A large crater was left. Don’t muck around with this stuff. The bureaucrats will tell you its Ok to move bulk loads around built up areas and is safe…don’t believe them. One dopey manager said to me and others…we have never had and explosion in SA why do we need these strict transport Dangerous Goodslaws. I have used ammonium nitrate underground mining for many years. Its cheap for mining companies that’s why they use it. All travelers beware of trucks carrying loads. They don’t always carry or display the correct class or diamond signs either.
I forgot to say trucks carrying explosives in the past were not allowed to carry mixed loads due to serious accidents in the past. That is detonators and explosives on the same truck due to the risk. Detonators are more sensitive to impact. Companies lobbying governments has changed this so it can now be done. Its cheaper for the companies to send one truck. They will tell you the truck is especially designed with barriers between mixed loads or other things to make it safe. What happens when a serious accident happens with one of these trucks or any truck ? Bits fly everywhere !