Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A truck fire on the E17 near Harelbeke caused major traffic jams on January 16, 2025. A crash in Kruisem made the situation worse.
On this morning, January 16 2025, at about 8 a.m., emergency services responded to a truck fire on the E17 motorway near Harelbeke. The truck had been driving to Ghent and was close to the Benelux Bridge. The driver, a man from Wervik, noticed a problem with his vehicle while driving.
The Driver saw that the right rear wheel of his trailer was dragging and smoking. He pulled onto the hard shoulder to check what was wrong with the car and soon found out that a fire had started inside. He managed to stop the fire by grabbing an extinguisher. Feeling relieved afterward, the driver decided to take extra precautions. He unhitched the trailer from the tractor to avoid further damage.
What caused the major traffic jam on the E17 near Harelbeke?
When the driver unhooked the trailer, the fire started again. The flames spread quickly, and the driver could not control them alone. Emergency services were called to help with the fire and keep everyone safe. This caused traffic delays because the E17 was busy in the morning.
A fire on the E17 caused a lot of damage to a truck’s trailer. The back part was full of building materials. The driver tried to stop the fire and unhook the trailer, but the flames came back and burned it completely. Firefighters arrived to stop the fire and keep the area safe. They had to close two lanes of the motorway towards Ghent. This caused a big traffic jam that lasted until the trailer and debris were cleared. Many people were frustrated as the delays went on into the late morning.
What impact did the E17 truck fire and Kruisem crash have on morning traffic?
In the morning, another incident occurred on the E17 in Kruisem. Several cars crashed, causing more traffic. This accident took place while emergency services were still dealing with the truck fire in Harelbeke, creating another big traffic jam.
Drivers heading to Ghent were stuck for a long time, as the traffic from both incidents stretched for kilometers. The two emergencies made it harder for emergency services and traffic teams to manage everything.
