Fuel tankers up in flames on highway

Fuel tankers up in flames on highway

UPDATE:

LOCAL Ergon crews are currently at the scene of a fuel tanker fire that has disrupted power to over 6,500 customers.

Corporate Communications Manager Bob Pleash said at about 2.45am, customers in the Eton, Walkerston, Victoria Plains, Pleyestowe, Marian, Habana and Farleigh areas lost power after a fully laden B-double fuel tanker caught fire near the Eton substation on the Peak Downs Highway.

Ergon crews were quickly dispatched to the scene but were initially unable to gain access to the site for assessment and repairs due to the intensity of the fire.

Power was restored to the Farleigh area several minutes later at 2.48am.

It is expected that power to remaining customers fed from the Pleystowe substation will not be reinstated for another three quarters of an hour while crews conduct network switching around the immediate fault site.

Atleast one power pole has been destroyed in the blaze.

2.30pm:

DUE to the road being destroyed by fuel and fire a Mackay police spokesman said Main Roads is laying new asphalt.

"Engineers from the Department of Main Roads have attended the scene," he said.

"They are ripping up the road and laying new asphalt."

The Peak Downs Hwy is not expected to open before 5pm today.

2pm:

TWO men remain in the Mackay Base Hospital following a three vehicle accident in the early hours of this morning.

A 41-year-old male is in a serious but stable condition with fractures, head and chest injuries and a 30-year-old male who was admitted for observation also remains in hospital a spokeswoman said.

Two other males aged 54 and 46 were assessed in the Emergency Department but not admitted.

10am:

THE two fuel tankers that were on fire have stopped burning and the clean-up process is now underway.

A police spokesperson said the Peak Downs Hwy between Eton and Walkerston remains closed.

There is a diversion in place at Eton-Homebush Rd.

8.45am:

6500 customers had their power disrupted in the early hours of this morning when the accident occurred.

Ergon crews were quickly dispatched to the scene but were initially unable to gain access to the site for assessment and repairs due to the intensity of the fire.

Only 24 customers, mainly around the North Eton Rd area are still without power.

These customers are expected to be off for most of the day until early evening as Ergon crews wait to get access to the site.

A high voltage power pole has been burnt as result of a crash.

7.30am:

TWO fuel tankers have gone up in flames after a collision between the two trucks and a Holden Calais sedan.

A police spokesman said the accident occurred at about 2.30am this morning on the Peak Downs Hwy between Walkerston and Eton.

The Peak Downs Hwy is expected to be closed in both directions for most of the day.

There are diversions in place.