Overturned beer truck catches fire on AP-9 in Pontevedra, injuring driver
An overturned lorry carrying beer caught fire at kilometre 123 of the AP-9 motorway in Pontevedra on Friday, injuring the driver and closing southbound lanes toward Vigo.
Morning collision at kilometre 123
A commercial truck loaded with beer overturned and caught fire on the AP-9 motorway on Friday morning, disrupting transit along one of the primary transport arteries in Galicia. The collision occurred at around 07:20 at kilometre 123 of the toll route, within the Alba district near Pontevedra. The freight vehicle veered off the road, overturned onto its side, and ignited across the cab and cargo area. A passing motorist witnessed the incident and contacted the 112 Galicia emergency operations centre. The caller initially reported that the truck driver remained trapped inside the burning driver cabin as flames began spreading through the wreckage.
Driver escape and medical treatment
Before emergency responders arrived at the scene, the driver succeeded in exiting the burning vehicle on foot by his own means. The man then attempted to fight the flames himself before first responders reached the scene. The Centro Integrado de Atencion as Emerxencias activated an operational response that mobilized the Servizo de Urxencias Sanitarias de Galicia-061, the traffic division of the Guardia Civil, the Bomberos de Pontevedra, and road maintenance teams. Emergency personnel stabilized the driver on site and evacuated him to the Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña. Initial assessments from the Guardia Civil indicated light injuries involving contusions and first-degree burns. Later updates from the police force confirmed that the driver suffered burns across approximately 38% of his body, though medical personnel confirmed his life was not in danger.
Motorway closures and detours
The scale of the fire and safety concerns forced authorities to halt all traffic across both carriageways during the peak morning rush hour. The closure generated substantial tailbacks as vehicles accumulated near the Pontevedra section of the route. Officers from the Guardia Civil established diversions onto secondary routes while emergency crews worked at the scene. At 08:05, personnel managed to reopen the right lane in the direction of A Coruña, restoring partial flow to northbound traffic. However, the southbound roadway toward Vigo and Tui remained entirely blocked to all vehicles. In addition, emergency services closed the access link connecting the AP-9 with the AG-41 highway to manage regional traffic flow.
- A truck carrying beer overturns and catches fire at kilometre 123 in Alba
- Police reopen the right lane for traffic heading towards A Coruña
- Southbound lanes and the AG-41 junction remain closed during vehicle cleanup
Vehicle cleanup and diesel hazard
The Guardia Civil warned that travel restrictions would continue for several hours while recovery teams cleared the carriageway. The truck sustained extensive structural damage from the fire, leaving charred wreckage and damaged beer cargo scattered over the roadway. Cleanup operations were further delayed by the precarious state of the vehicle diesel fuel tank, which required specialized handling from firefighters to prevent additional hazards. Highway maintenance personnel worked to clear the spilled load, neutralize fuel residue, and repair any surface damage to ensure road safety before restoring normal circulation on the southbound lanes.
