Van Idiot Who Caused Blackwall Tunnel Chaos
A VAN driver became Londons most wanted man today after shedding his cargo of asbestos in the Blackwall Tunnel
sparking the worst traffic jam for years.
Police had to close the northbound side of the tunnel after a bus driver saw the hazardous waste fall from the van yesterday afternoon and raised the alarm.
Within minutes all approach roads were in chaos as hundreds of thousands of motorists were forced on to alternative routes to escape an eight-mile tailback.
The jams continued into the morning rush hour as specialists in protective suits cleared up the asbestos, which can cause cancer if inhaled.
The tunnel was re-opened in stages between 7.30am and 9am but thousands remained trapped in slow-moving traffic.
Today TfL said it was scouring footage from CCTV cameras to identify the van driver who brought large parts of southeast London to a standstill.This reckless idiot has caused untold misery for thousands and we are determined to find him, said a spokesman. He must have known when the two 20kg plastic bags came off because of the weight difference. The bags burst on impact so he must have seen something.
A VAN driver became Londons most wanted man today after shedding his cargo of asbestos in the Blackwall Tunnel
sparking the worst traffic jam for years.
Police had to close the northbound side of the tunnel after a bus driver saw the hazardous waste fall from the van yesterday afternoon and raised the alarm.
Within minutes all approach roads were in chaos as hundreds of thousands of motorists were forced on to alternative routes to escape an eight-mile tailback.
The jams continued into the morning rush hour as specialists in protective suits cleared up the asbestos, which can cause cancer if inhaled.
The tunnel was re-opened in stages between 7.30am and 9am but thousands remained trapped in slow-moving traffic.
Today TfL said it was scouring footage from CCTV cameras to identify the van driver who brought large parts of southeast London to a standstill.This reckless idiot has caused untold misery for thousands and we are determined to find him, said a spokesman. He must have known when the two 20kg plastic bags came off because of the weight difference. The bags burst on impact so he must have seen something.
(c) 2007 Evening Standard; London (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.