Long delays near Taupo as truck blazes, spills diesel

Traffic on SH1, south of Taupo, was delayed for hours after a truck burst into flames and spilt diesel. Photo / Laurilee McMichael

Traffic was delayed for hours on SH1, south of Taupo, after a truck caught on fire and diesel was spilt.

Emergency services were called to the scene between the East Taupo Arterial and Tawha Rds at 1.30pm yesterday.

Fire service communications spokesman Jaron Phillips said crews from Taupo and Rotorua attended. There were no injuries to the driver.

"It's a truck fire but compounding that is a diesel spill from the truck and it seems to be quite close to the lake," Mr Phillips said. "The truck lost an axle which led to the fire and when the first crew arrived it was well involved."

The fire was extinguished about an hour later and a fire investigation was underway.

Tuwharetoa Maori Trust Board posted on their Facebook page that no diesel had entered the Mangakoura wetlands, the Mangamutu stream or Lake Taupo.

Both lanes of the highway were closed before one lane was opened about 3.15pm. Both lanes were later re-opened but traffic was restricted to 30km/h.

Earlier in the day, a car with four occupants rolled on the western side of Lake Taupo.

A police spokesman said the crash was reported at 12.30pm and happened about 8km south of Waihaha.

"Everyone was able to get out and they only had minor injuries," he said.