Tanker truck carrying fuel razed in single-vehicle accident
MIRI: A tanker truck driver was slightly injured when he lost control of his vehicle while transporting about 30,000 litres of fuel along KM51 Bintulu-Miri coastal road yesterday.
State Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department chief Supt Alexon Naga Chabu said the 30-year-old driver from Kanowit was transporting diesel and Ron 95 from Bintulu to Miri when the 8.30am incident happened near Kampung Pelapi in Bekenu.
“Investigation revealed the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing the truck to skid to the left of the road before it overturned across both lanes of the road,” he said.
“The driver managed to get out of the truck on his own before a spark from the battery caused the truck to catch fire,” said Alexson, adding that the driver’s license and identification card were burnt during the incident.
Alexson said further investigation on the case is still being conducted under Rule 10 of the Road Traffic Rules 1959 (LN 166/59).
Meanwhile, Fire and Rescue Department Zone 6 chief, Law Poh Kiong said 10 personnel from Miri Fire and Rescue Station, three personnel from Lopeng Fire and Rescue Station and six personnel from Samalaju Fire and Rescue Station were at the scene to keep the situation under control.
Law said fire destroyed the truck and its load completely. The road was inaccessible in both directions while firefighters battled with foam and water for three hours and police officers helped to control traffic.
The driver was sent by Civil Defence Force to Miri Hospital.
Staff from Cahaya Mata Sarawak helped to clear the road of the debris from the burnt truck.
“The total loss has yet to be ascertained,” added Law.