One person died following a collision involving an LPG gas tanker on the N12 highway between the R59 and Comaro Road off-ramp in southern Johannesburg in the early hours of Sunday morning¹. The deceased was travelling in a light motor vehicle, while the truck driver escaped uninjured¹.

The crash resulted in a fire and the complete closure of the highway in both directions¹². Emergency services declared the area highly hazardous due to the risk of explosion¹². Road closures were expected to remain in place for several hours¹².

Kagiso Phasha, spokesperson for the City of Johannesburg Emergency Services, said the number of people involved remained uncertain as defensive operations prevented direct access to the vehicle¹. "We just managed to locate that one. However, due to the fact that the tanker is still on fire, we have contained the fire. We're cooling down the gas tanker. So while we cool down, we are also waiting to reduce the pressure in the gas of the tank," Phasha said¹.

The Johannesburg Metro Police Department urged motorists to avoid the area entirely and follow designated diversion points². Westbound traffic heading toward Soweto was diverted at the R59 Reading Interchange, while eastbound traffic heading toward Alberton was diverted at Kliprivier Drive². Alternative routes included the M1 North/South via the Booysens area, the R59 through Alberton, and Kliprivier Drive through the Southern Suburbs².

Xolani Fihla, JMPD spokesperson, advised motorists to follow the diversion points².