Man dies in crash before chemical explosion shuts Queensland highway
A man has died in a car crash that triggered a chemical explosion on the Bruce Highway in regional Queensland.
Police said a man driving in a ute collided with a truck five kilometres north of Bororen, south of Gladstone.
The driver of the ute died in the crash.
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A man has died in a car crash before in regional Queensland that may have triggered a chemical explosion on the Bruce Highway. Queensland Police
The truck had been carrying 42 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, some of which spilled, prompting authorities to evacuate residents in a 2.5 kilometre area.
The truck's fuel tanks caught alight and exploded.
Emergency services later reviewed the scene by drone.
They found the explosion had a blast radius of 500 metres, causing several spot fires and downing power lines on the nearby rail line.
Police said 49 people in the area were evacuated during the public safety declaration.
Residents were allowed to return to the area after 5.20pm.
There were no injuries reported from the explosion.
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People in the Bororen area in Queensland are urged to leave immediately after a chemical incident. Queensland Police
The driver of the truck, a 47-year-old NSW man, was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries.
The Bruce Highway between Daisy Dell Road and Turkey Beach Road will be closed for an extended period.
A forensic investigation of the explosion is continuing.
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