NSW: Inferno as tanker rolls on car, killing at least three

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-2000
NSW: Inferno as tanker rolls on car, killing at least three

SYDNEY, Dec 8 AAP - A petrol tanker rolled on top of a car and exploded into a fireball
today, killing at least three people.

The tanker driver and at least two people in the car were engulfed in flames at a roundabout
on the F3 near Ourimbah, on the New South Wales Central Coast.

However emergency authorities said it would take some time to confirm how many had died.

Flames shot 30 metres into the air from the blazing tanker, which was carrying more
than 36,000 litres of fuel, witnesses said.

"Arriving firecrews were confronted with an inferno of burning petrol that had engulfed
the tanker and the car," Fire Brigade Inspector Gordon Boath said.

Fireman said intense heat prevented any attempt to rescue the occupants of the vehicle
but they believed no-one could have survived the inferno.

Firemen using breathing apparatus and protected by water sprays worked to stop the
spread of burning fuel and it took an hour to bring the blaze under control.

NSW Fire Brigade spokesman Peter Llowarch confirmed the tanker driver was dead and
said it was believed two others died in the sedan.

A brigade spokesman said it would take hours before a clear picture emerged of what
had caused the horrific accident.

Mr Llowarch said recovery workers needed to wait until the wreckage had cooled and
remaining fuel had been siphoned off to another tanker before they could remove the bodies.

"It's very dangerous because we are still dealing with a lot of fuel and the fuel is
still at an elevated temperature," another brigade spokesman said.

Firefighters also had to battle a number of smaller fires sparked by fuel leaking from
the tanker.

A small quantity of fuel also seeped into a nearby swamp, but was quickly contained,
Mr Llowarch said.

Police accident investigators were at the scene.

The incident came as the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority launched an advertising campaign
intended to reduce road deaths north of Sydney over the holiday period.

The campaign encourages drivers to avoid using the Pacific Highway north of Newcastle
on December 26 and 27 and on January 28.

"The campaign is aimed at improving travel conditions and safety on the Pacific Highway
by reducing traffic volumes on peak days and minimising driver frustration," said the
NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Roads, Reba Meagher.

AAP jas/mk/sb/cjh/sp

KEYWORD: TANKER NIGHTLEAD

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