A sand truck caught on fire along the Houston Public Road yesterday, resulting in a massive traffic jam that snared motorists bound for the East Bank of Demerara for hours.
Just around noon yesterday, the cabin of the truck burst into flames as the vehicle was proceeding south along the eastern carriageway. It is unclear what caused the fire.
However, Sunday Stabroek learnt that the fire service arrived on the scene minutes later and managed to extinguish the fire.
From videos and photographs posted on Facebook, only the cabin of the truck was engulfed in flames.
Nonetheless, vehicles journeying along the roadway were stuck as the flow of traffic was halted for close to three hours.
The vehicles approaching the East Bank Public Road from James Street were backed up all the way to Sussex Street while traffic from Mandela Avenue heading in the same direction stretched all the way to Roxanne Burnham Gardens.
At about 3.08pm, attempts were being made to remove the truck from off the road. Despite that, traffic was still moving at a snail’s pace under the direction of police officers.
With the western lane being blocked off due to the position of the truck, police created a three lane diversion from the entrance of the East Bank thoroughfare to Mc Doom. This saw traffic moving a bit faster.
Adding to the woes of drivers travelling to the West Demerara was a disruption of traffic on the Demerara Harbour Bridge. The Bridge Company in a Facebook notice said a vehicle broke down on the bridge, resulting in an interruption in the smooth flow of traffic.
