A trucking company has issued an apology after a spill of metal debris along a major stretch of the M1 Motorway north of Sydney caused chaos for motorists, resulting in hundreds of flat tyres.
Around 25 kilometres of the motorway, between Palmdale and the Mooney Mooney Bridge, was closed early Friday morning after a tipper truck lost part of its load at approximately 5 a.m., scattering sharp metal shards across the road and bringing traffic to a standstill.
Daniel Falconer, General Manager of NJ Ashton Group—the owner of the truck involved—spoke to 2GB, assuring affected drivers that the company will cover all costs through their insurance.
“We’re deeply sorry for the disruption and any concerns caused. Anyone needing assistance will be fully compensated,” Falconer said.
He expressed relief that no major accidents occurred amid the hazardous conditions. “Thankfully, no serious injuries have been reported. The pins securing the truck’s load were locked and verified by police, so it appears to be a mechanical fault that caused the debris to leak out gradually over several kilometres.”
Falconer also noted that NJ Ashton Group has operated similar transports for three to four years without any prior incidents.
“We’re investigating exactly how this happened, but it seems the metal shards seeped out slowly rather than a sudden spill.”
The motorway closure caused significant delays as crews worked to clear the dangerous debris and ensure the road was safe for travel.
More than 375 cars were left stranded when a truck carrying metal shards accidentally spilled its load across a major section of Sydney’s M1 motorway. The debris, scattered over several kilometres early Friday morning, caused widespread tyre damage and forced the closure of the busy freeway for hours as crews worked to clear the dangerous mess.
The 46-year-old driver involved, who has over 20 years of experience, is cooperating fully with police investigations.
Daniel Falconer, General Manager of NJ Ashton Group, revealed the driver is deeply shaken by the incident.
“He’s devastated and can’t understand how this happened,” Falconer said.
“This same driver has been making the same run for three or four weeks without any issues.”
The sharp metal shards were scattered along more than 20 kilometres of the southbound lanes, causing tyre damage to hundreds of unsuspecting motorists. In some cases, multiple tyres on a single vehicle were slashed, according to the NSW transport department.
Authorities warned that clearing the extensive debris could take the entire day. Meanwhile, tow truck drivers had their hands full, shuttling vehicles to and from tyre repair shops after a hectic morning on the road.
GPS mapping vividly highlights the extent of the massive delays on the M1 motorway Friday morning, with red zones showing heavy congestion stretching for kilometres as drivers navigate the aftermath of the metal shard spill.
Drivers of B-double trucks were advised to pull over and wait until the M1 motorway reopens, while other motorists were urged to take the old Pacific Highway to avoid the extensive delays.
Nicole from Central Coast Auto Recovery described the chaotic morning to AAP:
“It’s been non-stop. I’ve already towed six cars on my own, all heading to tyre repair shops in Gosford — lots of flat tyres.”
A 20-kilometre stretch of the key arterial road linking the Central Coast to Sydney was closed, with traffic piling up another five kilometres north.
NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison described the incident as “unprecedented,” warning that as many as 380 vehicles may have sustained damage.
Emergency crews and sweepers launched a meticulous clean-up operation early Friday to clear the motorway safely.
A Transport Management Centre spokesperson said, “It’s a very intricate clean-up to ensure no debris remains that could cause further damage to vehicles.”
Scrap Metal Falls From Truck, Lodging Sharp Shards in Drivers’ Tyres Across M1 Motorway
“It’s been a slow process getting the motorway reopened from Ourimbah to Mount White,” said NRMA spokesman Katrina Usman.
Dozens of tow trucks have been dispatched to assist over 200 stranded drivers, she told AAP.
“Our patrols can handle single tyre punctures roadside,” Usman explained, “but vehicles with multiple damaged tyres require towing. As of this morning, wait times for roadside assistance or a tow truck stretched to nearly two hours.”
