New footage depicts the aftermath of a fatal collision on the Bruce Highway early Friday morning involving a utility vehicle and a truck transporting 42.5 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, resulting in one fatality.
The driver of the utility vehicle died while the truck driver was pulled from his vehicle by bystanders, with injuries to his abdomen, legs, pelvis, head and arms.
Aerial vision of the aftermath of the Bruce Highway crash.
Footage released from Queensland Police shows a decimated section of the highway. Locals and travellers are now warned that the section of the key corridor could be closed for days.
It is understood the B-Double truck was on fire and leaking contents on to the road.
The crash in the rural town of Bororen occurred around 5am and a significant explosion followed later that morning just after 9.40am, reportedly heard over 50 kilometres away.
Residents in Bororen were told to leave immediately.
The small town in the Gladstone Region is approximately 400 kilometres north of Brisbane.
“A hazardous chemical incident has occurred on the Bruce Highway between Daisy Dell Road and Turkey Beach Road at Bororen,” a 9.45am emergency alert from Queensland Police read.
“A 2.5 kilometer exclusion zone is in place. Residents within the exclusion zone are
“If you cannot leave, shelter indoors, and close your windows and doors, and turn off your air conditioning.”
A serious collision on the Bruce Highway resulted in a truck carrying ammonium nitrate exploding, leading to a hazardous chemical spill and an evacuation order for residents within a 2.5-kilometre radius. Picture: Queensland Police
Police cancelled an emergency Alert for Bororen as at 5.35pm with residents avle to return home.
Craig Gibbs, who owns Koorawatha Homestead Motel about 3km away, described the explosion as “a massive rumble”.
“We were all nervous,” he told The Courier Mail.
“We had staff in the kitchen here, and they thought something had smashed outside.
“Our housekeepers came running out thinking, ‘what the hell’s going on?’”
He said the motel had to cancel 14 guests’ bookings but would stay open to assist with any evacuees.
The highway is expected to remain closed for an extended period as emergency services work to manage the aftermath of the incident, with detours in place for travellers. Picture: Queensland Police
Police released a photo showing a massive plume of smoke coming from the crash site.
Local residents described the intensity of the blast, with one woman, living 50 kilometres away, claiming that it “rattled” her windows.
Social media images from the area showed what appeared to be mushroom-cloud smoke plumes linked to the explosion.
The Bruce Highway, a vital route connecting northern and southern Queensland, is expected to remain closed for days, authorities warn.
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service described it as a “prolonged incident,” with several fire crews working to extinguish the blaze and manage the chemical spill.
Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett outlined the detours now in place for travellers.
“Northbound vehicles to detour at Childers. Light vehicles can also detour via Mt Perry at Gin Gin,” he wrote on social media.
“Southbound traffic to detour at the Calliope Crossroads and connect back to the Bruce via Biloela and Monto. Blackman’s Gap Road is closed to highway traffic but open to local traffic only.”
Source:News.com.au
