Man dead after smash into Gateway pylon

A man has died after his vehicle crashed into a pylon supporting the Gateway Motorway at Eagle Farm and burst into flames.

A man has died in a serious car crash that forced the closure of a major route in Brisbane’s east on Friday morning

Police say that just after 3am a car travelling east on Kingsford Smith Dr at Eagle Farm collided with a pylon supporting the Gateway Motorway overpass before bursting into flames.

The vehicle smashed into a pylon supporting the Gateway overpass at Kingsford Smith Drive and burst into flames. Picture: Nine/Today Show.

The driver of the vehicle died a the scene.

Police Inspector Karl Hahne told media at the scene that it appeared the impact of the car crashing into the bridge pylon had caused something within the engine to ignite.

A serious traffic crash has occurred outbound on Kingsford Smith Drive, Eagle Farm. Diversions are in place via Schneider Road. The northbound exit from the Gateway Motorway onto Kingsford Smith Drive is blocked. Avoid the area or expect long delays. #bnetraffic#qldtrafficpic.twitter.com/R07Fo5guuY

— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) August 4, 2022

Kingsford Smith Drive traffic was diverted along Schneider Rd and the northbound Gateway exit into Eagle Farm has been blocked and by 7am, eastbound traffic was gridlocked back to the Bretts Wharf ferry terminal.

But by 7.30am the road had reopened, with police controlling traffic, and only minor delays remaining.

The Forensic Crash Unit is appealing for witnesses, especially anyone with dashcam vision of the crash, or the moments leading up to it, to come forward.