N1 closed at Atterbury Road

One lane on the N1 highway on Atterbury Road was briefly opened following an accident between two trucks and three other vehicles that resulted in a man being killed. However, officials decided that the conditions were too dangerous and road was closed again.

The accident happened on the N1 North under the Atterbury Bridge last night. A truck transporting iron rods plunged into a cement-mixing truck and three other vehicles before smashing into a crane at a roadworks construction site at 5pm.

The body of one man was found trapped underneath one of the trucks and three other people were injured in the accident.

Tleane said engineers worked throughout the night to stabilise the crane. "It was found that it moved by about a metre. A decision was taken that the best option is to dismantle it and rebuild it again so that no danger is posed to motorists."

In addition, part of the bridge that burnt will be "scrapped" and rebuilt, said Tleane. "We cannot predict how long this exercise is going to take."

Tleane said motorists intending to use the N1 should add 45 minutes to their travel time, or use alternate routes.