Minderhout (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A tanker truck collision on the E19 near Minderhout resulted in a major fuel leak (20,000 litres), trapping and killing the driver. The E19 towards Breda is closed, resulting in significant delays.
An accident occurred on the E19 motorway at the Minderhout parking area. A tanker truck was involved in the crash. The truck cabin got stuck under the tank. This trapped the driver inside. Emergency services arrived quickly to help. They worked hard to free the driver.
The driver did not survive the accident, which caused major traffic problems. The E19 was completely closed in the direction of Breda. Authorities are trying to assess the situation and clear the wreckage. They mentioned that because the crash was so severe, the cleanup would take a long time.
How is traffic affected by the fuel spill on the E19?
One lane of the motorway has reopened, allowing some cars to pass. According to authorities, drivers going to the Netherlands should find other routes. One way is to exit at Loenhout. They can then use local roads and get back on the E19 at Meer. They mentioned that another option is to take the A12 and go through Bergen-op-Zoom.
Authorities mentioned that delays are expected to last for a long time. Authorities are asking people to follow traffic updates. They should allow extra travel time while cleanup crews work to reopen the motorway completely.
Emergency crews are dealing with a large fuel spill from a tanker that was carrying diesel. About 20,000 litres of fuel leaked due to the accident. Stijn Van Tichelt from the fire department said,
“The load was diesel and was partly lost. We have dammed the canal to limit the pollution.”
According to environmentalists, this spill is a big risk to the environment, and teams are working to clean it up quickly. The crash also damaged the truck and 3 bridge pillars. The Roads and Traffic Agency is checking the bridge to see if it is safe.
“The work will partly overlap with the morning rush hour.”
Stin Van Tichelt from the fire brigade
According to officials, work on the E19 will take a long time because of the wreck and the damage to the environment. Stijn Van Tichelt said,
“Step one is towing the tanker.”
He mentioned that after the truck is removed, the next step is to clean the pollution in the canal.
Officials mentioned that the cleanup will take many hours, causing traffic delays and lane closures for drivers heading to Breda. Authorities ask drivers to be patient, follow detour routes, and check traffic updates while teams work to make the road safe again.
