Semi carrying toilet paper catches fire on Gateway

A truck carrying toilet paper burst into flames on Brisbane’s Gateway Bridge overnight, forcing the closure of all northbound lanes and causing delays.

A TRUCK carrying toilet paper erupted into flames on the Gateway Motorway overnight, forcing the closure of all northbound lanes on the Gateway Bridge.

The incident happened on the bridge at Murrarie about 10pm when the semi-trailer burst into flames, in an incident believed to have been caused by a mechanical issue.

A truck carrying toilet paper has burst into flames on the Gateway Bridge. Picture: Channel 7

The driver managed to get himself out of the truck and was not injured.

Traffic was delayed as crews attempted to unload the truck - which was believed to also be carrying wood.

This is not fake news.... a semi carrying a load of lifesaving toilet paper has crashed and burst into flames on the Gateway. The driver is fine... the loo paper didn’t survive. Pics on @sunriseon7 pic.twitter.com/VQnKEp2Y1r

— Bianca Stone (@Bianca_Stone) March 4, 2020

Excavators and forklifts were brought in to help move the wreckage, with a source saying the cabin of the truck had melted onto the road and that surface repairs had to be made before the road could reopen.

Late on Wednesday night, trucks were stretched back to Lytton Rd with vehicles too big to turn around simply being told to wait.

By Thursday morning the wreckage had been fully cleared.

BNE: all lanes on the Gateway Bridge northbound have re-opened after an earlier incident #BNEtraffic #preciouscargo pic.twitter.com/J1WVoB8yZl

— Transurban (@Transurban) March 4, 2020

The incident comes as the nation suffers from a toilet-paper shortage, caused by people stocking up supplies in the event of a coronavirus pandemic.

Empty toilet paper shelves at a local supermarket Picture: Supplied

Woolworths on Wednesday announced it would be limiting its customers to just a four-pack per person, as stocks run low across the country.

The run on toilet paper has already led to inflated prices online, with a Gumtree post selling six packs of Quilton toilet paper for $120 (double the recommended retail price).