Chaos as truck spills metal on M1 near Gosford, puncturing car tyres

Hundreds of vehicles have been left with punctured or ‘shredded’ tyres after a truck spill left debris strewn across the Pacific Motorway near Gosford.

After a massive clean-up effort all southbound lanes of the M1 Pacific Motorway have reopened from Ourimbah to Mount White after a truck spilled 750kg of metal pieces across a 30km stretch.

The incident brought traffic to a standstill, left at least 300 vehicles with punctured tyres, and triggered a massive clean-up effort.

Emergency services, tow trucks and sweeperswere on the scene at the Pacific Motorway between the Pacific Highway and Morgans Rd near Gosford on the NSW Central Coast after a truck spilt millions of pieces of metal onto the road about 5am on Friday.

A NSW Police spokesman had earlier told NewsWire about 50 cars had punctured tyres,though more recent estimates suggest at least 300 vehicles had been affected.

Millions of tiny and sharp shards of metal were spilt onto the M1 Motorway on Friday morning. Picture: Live Traffic NSW

Commuters have shared snaps of the pieces of metal found on the road. Picture: Facebook

Transport for NSW co-ordinator general Howard Collins said 750kg of “finely ground steel” had stretched more than 30km down the motorway and would require extra sweeping efforts to remove the millions of pieces of debris.

The M1 remained closed for several hours before reopening around 2pm, although heavy congestion persisted.

“This is not just a case of getting a road sweeper out or the guys and girls with brooms,” he said.

“We are using some magnetic devices. We are removing embedded metal in the highway itself.”

The incident caused an enormous traffic jam, affecting hundreds of vehicles. Picture: Live Traffic NSW

The small scraps of metal are shredding tyres. Picture: Facebook

He added there would be “no charge” for those who required a tow truck to remove their vehicle from the stretch of road.

“There will be no charge for your vehicle being towed,” he said. “It is important that we support those motorists who suffered multiple tyre failures.”

Those who drove through the road early in the morning and may not have been caught in the traffic jam have been urged to check their tyres, as small and sharp fragments may have become lodged without drivers realising.

“It might be something waiting to happen,” Mr Collins said.

“These metal shards are small but very sharp and could lead to later failure.”

NSW Police Acting Superintendent Thomas Barnes said the majority of vehicles had been removed from the road, though some commuters who had abandoned their cars were yet to return for their vehicle.

He said the bulk of the damage to vehicles was on the rims and tyres, and there were no reports of injuries.

“We’re very lucky that we didn’t have a fatality or a serious injury this morning when it quite easily could have occurred,” Superintendent Barnes said.

Pieces of small and sharp metal debris became lodged in more than 300 vehicle tyres. Picture: Facebook

A massive clean-up effort is under way to remove the debris. Picture: Facebook

The truck company reportedly involved in the incident, NJ Ashton, said it was “taking full responsibility for what’s happened” and was “very sorry for any damage and disruption that’s been caused”.

In an online statement, NJ Ashton general manager Daniel Falconer said the company was yet to “fully understand how this occurred”.

“At this stage it appears to have been an accident,” he said, adding an investigation would be launched once the clean-up was completed.

“The truck driver has been doing the run for about a year and is experienced, and our fleet is regularly serviced and maintained,” Mr Falconer said in the statement.

Mr Falconer told 2GB on Friday morning that he was not sure how the incident occurred.

“We’ve been doing this for about three or four years and we’ve never had a problem,” he said.

“The pins on the back of the truck were locked, confirmed by the police – they confirmed they were locked firm.

“We don’t know how it has come out of the back of a truck. It’s just been seeping out by the looks of it over a couple of (kilometres).”

He said the driver had “absolutely no idea” the steel fragments were coming out the back and was “devastated” by what had happened.

“We’re very, very sorry for what’s happened,” Mr Falconer said.

He added that the company was sending out its own mechanics to assist drivers and sweepers with the clean-up effort.

“We’re doing as much as we possibly can to fix the problem,” he said.

Tyres have been shredded by the scattered pieces of metal. Picture: Facebook

Metal pieces could be seen sticking out of tyres. Picture: Facebook

The debris scattered across all lanes for a stretch of 30kmfrom Ourimbah to Mount White, causing heavy traffic as cars pull to the side of the road.

Commuters shared images of the metal debris online, which has “shredded” their tyres and caused “absolute chaos” on the motorway.

Residents shared images of the shards of metal found on the road, some of which had become lodged inside tyres and tearing them apart, forcing many to pull over to the side of the road.

Mr Collins told 2GB’s Ben Fordham the chaos began after a truck’s doors opened and spilt the metal onto the motorway.

“We believe it’s a dog and trailer, where the back door has come open and literally spilt metal debris, which really shreds tyres immediately,” he said.

Hundreds of vehicles have been left stranded with flat tyres. Picture: Sunrise

A spokesman for NJ Ashton had earlier told Fordham the driver was completely unaware the metal had spilt onto the motorway “until it was too late”.

The spokesman said the pins on the back of the truck were loaded and “somehow” the metal shrapnel made its way onto the road.

They also said the company’s insurance would “cover all the damage” caused in the incident, and those affected should send get in touch via email.

Metal fragments are being found in car tyres. Picture: Facebook

The M1 has been closed in a southbound direction between Ourimbah and the Calga Interchange, with Transport NSW urges all commuters to seek an alternative route.

“B-doubles should park up until the motorway reopens,” a statement read.

NewsWire has contacted NJ Ashton for comment.