Two dead in fatal truck accident and oil spill on N1 North in Sandton

Police are investigating the circumstances that led to a fatal truck accident on the N1 North highway in Sandton that claimed two lives.

According to Joburg Emergency Services, the victims were travelling in the truck before it overturned, spilling its load of cooking oil onto the highway. Two other passenger vehicles were involved in the accident.

READ: JMPD urges motorists to avoid N1 North at Winnie Mandela Drive due to road closure and severe delays

Spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said all four lanes have been closed off to traffic on Friday afternoon as mop-up and recovery operations continue.

"At this stage, the cause of the accident is still a subject of investigation. We are pleading with our motorists who are driving along the N1 North (William Nicol area) to exercise caution."

Meanwhile, Joburg Metro Police spokesperson Xolani Fihla said officers are working to reopen the highway as soon as possible.

"Hopefully they will do their best to make sure that it is cleaned up as quick as possible, but with the severity of that accident, it might take a bit of time, maybe an hour or an hour and a half or two hours."