GEORGE NEWS - A truck of local farmer Dirk Barnard burnt out after it caught fire just after 12:00 this afternoon while being driven on the R102 between Sinksabrug and the Glentana turnoff.
According to Pieter Nel, Barnard's father-in-law, the driver, Anton Prinsloo and his passenger, Kosie Jonker were driving when they suddenly heard a loud bang and smelled smoke.
When they looked outside, they saw flames coming out from under the truck.
They came to a standstill and managed to jump out before the flames could reach the cab. "They had a big scare and are relieved to have been able to escape in time," said Nel, a member of Wildfire Support Services.
George Fire Brigade was on the scene soon to put out the fire.
Some diesel spilled on the road surface and the road had to be closed. Eden Fire Brigade is cleaning it up.
Nel hurried to the scene after a call from his son-in-law who could not go himself. Nel said there was still diesel in the truck that they tapped out before it could be towed away to prevent diesel from being spilled along the way.
The road has been reopened.
The grass along the R102 caught fire too.
Eden Fire Brigade is cleaning up the diesel spill.
'We bring you the latest arden Route news'
