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As details begin to emerge we are now hearing that the cause of the fire inside the AP7 motorway tunnel in Pilar de la Horadada is as a result of a tragic accident, resulting in the death of a truck driver transporting hazardous materials.
The man died this Friday morning, burned to death inside his heavy-duty vehicle after his vehicle burst into flames when one of the truck’s tires burst , causing the fire to spread rapidly and requiring urgent emergency services intervention.
Emergency services rushed to the scene following reports of a collision inside the tunnel. Despite rapid intervention by firefighters and paramedics, the driver could not be saved and was declared dead at the scene.
Emergency crews have confirmed the death of the driver of the crashed vehicle, whose body was completely burned by the flames.
Another driver treated for anxiety attack
Medical teams from the SAMU (National Emergency Medical Service) and the SVA (Municipal Emergency Medical Service) municipal ambulance also had to treat the driver of the trailer that was traveling right behind the damaged truck, who witnessed the entire accident .
The man suffered an anxiety attack and a sharp rise in blood pressure , so he had to be stabilized on site.
The tunnel was immediately closed in both directions as a precaution, due to the potential danger posed by the truck’s cargo. A specialist hazardous materials unit was deployed to ensure there was no risk of chemical contamination or explosion.
Traffic has been diverted to alternative routes while authorities carry out cleanup operations and a full investigation into the cause of the crash.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area and check local traffic updates for the latest information.
The tunnel is currently undergoing a significant modernization project aimed at enhancing safety and improving energy efficiency. One area currently being upgraded is the tunnel’s lighting system although it is not known if this has anything to do with the closure.
The fire has produced a substantial amount of smoke, which can be seen from distance and which has accumulated inside the tunnel and is posing a hazard to motorists. As a result, authorities closed the tunnel to ensure safety. Fire crews are currently on hand and the tunnel’s ventilation systems have been activated to clear the smoke.
This incident underscores the importance of the ongoing modernization efforts for the Pilar de la Horadada tunnel.
In early 2024, the Spanish Ministry of Transport announced a €4.4 million investment aimed at enhancing the tunnel’s safety and energy efficiency. The upgrades include improvements to the power supply, emergency lighting, evacuation signage, emergency posts, public address system, hydrant network, ventilation systems, and the installation of new automatic fire detection cameras, traffic gauges, and closing barriers.
Additionally, the lighting system is being updated with dimmable LED equipment and an intelligent control and regulation system to optimize energy efficiency.
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