A severe traffic accident on the A2 highway near Nieuwegein early Saturday morning resulted in both a truck and a van catching fire, leading to a complete closure of the road in the southbound direction. Emergency services are still searching for possible occupants of the van, which was completely burned out. The incident occurred between the Oudenrijn interchange and Nieuwegein.
Authorities received the first report at 4:15 a.m. Fire crews and emergency responders arrived swiftly at the scene, where the truck driver was rescued with only minor injuries. However, no information has been confirmed about the driver or potential passengers of the van. “Emergency services are still searching for possible occupants of the van,” a spokesperson for the safety region stated.
The fire was severe enough for officials to escalate the response level due to difficulties with water supply. Firefighters managed to bring the flames under control, but they remain on-site to extinguish any remaining hot spots. A crane is being used to recover the truck, and authorities have not provided an estimate for when the road will reopen.
The safety region has strongly urged motorists to avoid the area, as traffic disruptions are expected to last for an extended period. While the entire southbound side of the A2 remains closed, one lane in the northbound direction has also been shut down due to the severity of the accident and recovery operations.
This incident highlights the dangers that can arise from serious vehicular accidents, not only damaging property but also posing significant risks to human life. The safety region continues its search efforts while working to restore normal traffic patterns as swiftly as possible.
As of now, authorities have not confirmed a timeframe for when the road will completely reopen, but estimations suggest that it may be blocked for several hours. The latest updates from the traffic authorities indicate that the road will likely reopen around noon, a detail reported by the ANWB.
The community is reminded to remain cautious and aware of their surroundings while traveling in the area, especially during emergencies where quick responses can save lives.
