Yet Again..! Two More Incidents on the Same Day: HGV truck travelling through Slane catches fire.

5 July 2011

In the early hours of Tuesday 5th July, the driver of a curtain-sided HGV carrying materials for recycling noticed smoke coming from the rear of the trailer. He managed to drive the truck across Slane Bridge and pull in at the layby on the southern side of the bridge at Fennor Castle where he uncoupled the trailer. The trailer was subsequently consumed by the fire and there were several loud explosions. We understand that the driver was thankfully unhurt.

It is speculated that either a rear wheel or the brakes of the truck may have overheated, similar to the the truck that caused the last major pile-up in the village in March 2009. The incident is a reminder of the very real dangers created by the particular configuration of the N2 through Slane, which has repeatedly been shown to be a sub-standard road, not fit for its current purpose. Had the fire cought hold minutes earlier as the truck passed through the village, it is clear that there could have been serious injury and even fatalities.

A report on the incident in the Meath Chronicle may be viewed HERE.

Later the same day there was a further incident involving another HGV truck which went out of control while travelling on the N2 north of Slane. The truck left the road and the driver and one other man travelling in the truck were injured.

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