Melbourne, Victoria, March 2007

Burnley Tunnel fire, 2007

Quick Statistics

3 Fatalities
2 Injured

On 23 March 2007 an accident occurred in the Burnley Tunnel Melbourne which links commuters between the city and eastern suburbs. A truck stopped in the left lane due to a blown tyre. This notified City Link monitoring control centre who activated a closed lane signal and reduced the tunnel speed limit. The accident occurred when a truck ran into cars trying to drive around the stationary truck, setting off further collisions. One of the trucks burst into flames on impact causing a large fire and explosions.

Three people were killed and two injured. Evacuation of hundreds of commuters was necessary and the tunnel remained closed for several days.

Sources

The Age 2008, ‘Burnley Tunnel crash truck 'unroadworthy', 2 September 2008, website viewed 12 September 2011.
Dix A, The Impact of Fixed Fire Fighting Systems on Tunnel Safety – The Burnley Incident in a Current Theoretical Perspective, author website, website viewed 9 December 2014.
The Sydney Morning Herald 2007, ‘Deadly tunnel fire melted cars’, 23 March 2007, website viewed 12 September 2011.