Driver's close shave as chemical-laden tanker crashes

A man had a close shave with death when a tanker lorry he was driving, skidded and fell on its side in the Jalan Kuantan bypass near Sungai Ular here Friday morning.

Mohd Shafie Ghani, 45, miraculously escaped injury in the 11.20am crash near the intersection to Sungai Ular at the East Coast Highway (LPT).

Kuantan police chief ACP Abdul Aziz Salleh said as the lorry was laden with chemicals, the police closed the road on both directions to avoid vehicular impact with chemical spillage.

In a statement, he said traffic was temporarily diverted to alternative route while awaiting reinforcements.

Abdul Aziz said initial investigations revealed the chemical was sodium hydrochloride, the corrosive type Class 8 with an estimated volume of 28 tonnes and identified as non-combustible.

Meanwhile, Gebeng Fire and Rescue Department chief Syed Jamaluddin Syed Mohamad said 11 members of the special forces Hazmat (Hazardous Materials), including himself, completed the road cleaning task at 9pm. - Bernama