The work of the State Fire and Rescue Service (GPRS) on the Kekava bypass road, where a collision of nine vehicles occurred yesterday, was completed today at 4:28 AM, and there is no longer a danger of a gas leak at the accident site, the GPRS informed the LETA agency.
With the involvement of the appropriate equipment, the accident truck was lifted onto the roadway with the help of a crane, after which gas from the damaged tank was transferred to another tank. The gas transfer was carried out by employees of SIA "Latvijas propāna gāze".
As reported, on Sunday morning, at the 18th kilometer of the Bauska highway (A7), that is, on the section of the Kekava bypass road between Katlakalns and the Riga bypass road, closer to the Riga bypass, several cars collided, resulting in a truck with a gas tank rolling off the road embankment and overturning. Gas leaked from the tank.
To coordinate the elimination of the consequences of the accident and to attract the necessary resources, an operational headquarters was established at the scene with the participation of representatives from the State Fire and Rescue Service (GPRS), the Emergency Medical Service (EMS), the State Police, SIA "Latvijas propāna gāze", JSC "Sadales tīkls", the Road Traffic Safety Directorate, the State Joint Stock Company "Latvijas autoceļu uzturētājs", the municipal police, as well as the truck driver. The National Armed Forces were also involved. The participation of the State Environmental Service in the elimination of the consequences of the accident was not required.
As observed by the LETA agency, access to the accident site was restricted. Police officers on duty on the roads claimed that approaching the accident vehicle was unsafe.
The EMS informed the LETA agency that medics provided assistance to 16 people at the scene, six of whom required hospitalization.
Witnesses reported that during the accident on this section of the road, traffic was hindered due to thick fog, while the sun was shining brightly.
SIA "Latvijas valsts ceļi" warned on Sunday after the incident that restoring traffic would likely take a relatively long time.
The accident site could be bypassed via Kekava or other roads.
