A person has been injured after a truck caught fire on a major highway with hundreds of motorists facing almost hour long traffic delays due to the dramatic incident.
The truck went up in flames on Friday at 3.45pm forcing all outbounds lanes of West Gate Freeway near Bolt Bridge, Docklands in Melbourne’s east to be blocked.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene and dozens of firefighters are currently working to douse the ferocious flames.
Paramedics and police have also arrived to assist emergency crews.
Traffic has banked up on the West Gate Freeway (pictured) in Melbourne’s east on Friday after a truck caught fire
The person who has not been identified at this stage is believed to have been injured after a piece of shrapnel from the truck exploded while the truck was on fire.
‘One member of the public suffered an injury due to a piece of shrapnel exploding from the truck while on fire,’ a Fire and Rescue Victoria spokesperson told The Herald Sun.
‘Police and Ambulance Victoria were responded to assist, Citylink utilised Traffic Management Systems to assist with traffic control.’
Thick plumes of black smoke were seen billowing from the white truck which brought traffic to a standstill.
Hundreds of motorists heading home from work along the freeway are been forced into a traffic chaos as a result of the incident.
Vehicles have backed up all the way onto the Monash Freeway from the Domain Tunnel with causing traffic delays of more than 55 minutes.
Motorists who are on the freeway heading in the direction of West Gate Bridge are being diverted onto two lanes on the far left which leads to CityLink and Todd Road.
Emergency services are currently at the scene (pictured) fighting the blaze with commuters facing traffic chaos
Motorists have been diverted away from the area as emergency crews (pictured) work to extinguish the blaze
Drivers who are heading to the southeaster suburbs near Melbourne airport have been urged to exist just before the on ramp of the Domain Tunnel with the road taking commuters north of the city.
Motorists heading towards the west have been urged to head towards South Melbourne and Southbank by using the entry from Todd Road to reach West Gate Bridge.
Victoria’s public transport department said that more lanes will be opened along the freeway once it has been deemed safe to do so.
A transport department spokesman said more lanes would be reopened when it was safe to do so.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Fire and Rescue Victoria for further comment.
More to come.
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