M7 tanker crash: Diesel looted by bystanders as paramedics worked to rescue trapped victims

Members of the public were filmed looting diesel from a crashed tanker on the M7, as paramedics battled to rescue trapped victims. Members of the public were seen on video looting diesel from a tanker that crashed on the M7 near the Bluff on Monday while paramedics worked to free the trapped crash victims. ALS Paramedics said that at about 10:30 am, multiple ALS paramedic units responded to the crash.

Paramedics found that the tanker had overturned and come to rest on its side, immediately leaking diesel across the roadway. ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson, said crews arrived to find “chaos and carnage” at the scene. “Two trucks with trailers, one being a tanker, had been involved in a T-bone collision.

The tanker overturned and started leaking approximately 30,000 litres of diesel onto the roadway,” the spokesperson said. “Paramedics found many looters trying to loot the diesel while we were assessing the scene.” It has been reported that police intervened to stop the looters. Four people were injured in the crash.

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Two occupants were found severely trapped in the wreckage. “Two of the occupants were severely entrapped. The fire department used hydraulic rescue equipment, including the jaws of life, to cut the men free,” the spokesperson said. “Once freed, all patients were transported to local government hospitals for further care.”

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