Kranspoort Pass in Middelburg, Mpumalanga was forced to close after a truck transporting sulphuric acid crashed.
The scene was deemed a danger for motorists and authorities alike, Middelburg Observer reported.
At around 10pm, the truck burst into flames, and the pass was closed by 11pm.
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Repeat offender?
One person died amid the chaos, and Kranspoort residents hope the in-depth investigation into the crash strengthens their calls to ban trucks from driving through the pass.
A number of trucks transporting sulphuric acid have crashed in the same area, but the owner of the truck in question has yet to be located.
Watch footage of the crash below:
Land owners are struggling to keep up with the continued environmental degradation as a result of the repeated accidents.
ALSO READ: Driver killed in Kranspoort Pass milk tanker crash
Rumble in the pass
New rumble strips were installed at the top of the pass in a bid to minimise accidents, but this proved counterproductive.
On the weekend they were installed, vehicles swerved into oncoming traffic to avoid the bumps.
Meetings with community members, the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) and other key role players ensued, addressing the rumble strips as well as the high volumes of accidents and chemical spills.
Compiled and translated from Afrikaans by Nica Richards.
This article first appeared on Caxton publication Middelburg Observer’s website, by Gerhard Rheeder. Read the original article here.
