Driver escapes serious injury in truck fire on highway

Flames engulfed the cabin of a gas tank truck along the Edward Seaga Highway yesterday, resulting in a shutdown of sections of the roadway.

The fire, which occurred in the vicinity of the Linstead tollbooth, happened shortly after 4 p.m. However, what ignited the blaze is still unknown.

It took approximately three units from the Linstead Fire Station and the Spanish Town Fire Station to extinguish the blaze.

Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch Calvin Allen indicated that the response from the fire personnel averted what could have been a massive explosion.

“The fire was concentrated to the tanker head and, thankfully, it did not reach around to the tank itself as the tank is laden with petrol, so we are really happy that part was averted and the fire truck arrived in reasonable time to extinguish the blaze,” Allen said.

During the shutdown, motorists were advised to divert through Mount Rosser and Fern Gully as the emergency responders contained the area and motorists travelling on the northbound leg of the highway were routed to use one lane.

Public relations officer at the Jamaica Fire Brigade Emelio Ebanks said that investigations would be carried out to determine the cause of the fire.