A lorry (19 tonnes in sheet metal / with compartmentalisation) carrying 1.6 tonnes of stock emulsion made from ammonium nitrate (500 kg), plus 50 litres of nitric acid and another 50 litres of acetic acid, veered to the right of the roadway, left the A20 motorway and tipped over around 1:30 pm on the road shoulder. No leak was detected on the lorry’s load, but diesel from the tank had spilled out. The rescue services set up a 150-m safety perimeter and closed the motorway to traffic for over 3 hours. The lorry was lifted by an emergency repair service; small amounts of acetic acid and powdery ammonium nitrate leaks were diluted in water. The lorry was then towed via convoy to the owner company’s depot. The driver’s paperwork was in order (driving time, inspections, etc.). The mechanic did however notice wear on the eyelet of the vehicle suspension leaf spring (i.e. the part that fastens the leaf spring to the chassis), which in turn caused the axle to move and the vehicle to drift off course.

The operator added eyelet inspection to the checklist of internal vehicle controls before departure.