A multi-vehicle collision involving two trucks and a car on the A2 highway near Konotopa, Poland, caused significant delays and a vehicle fire early Thursday.
Initial Collision and Traffic Disruption
Serious traffic disruptions occurred on the A2 highway near the Konotopa interchange around 3:03 AM on Thursday, April 2nd. The incident involved two trucks and a passenger car between the Pruszków and Opacz interchanges, heading towards Terespol.
The collision occurred on the A2 highway at the Konotopa interchange entrance (Warsaw West County), near Piastów, under the Piastowska Street overpass. The affected section leads in one direction to Terespol and in the other to Białystok.
Sequence of Events and No Injuries
Investigators determined a Ford passenger car experienced a mechanical failure and collided with a Mercedes tractor unit. A second Mercedes truck then struck the rear of the first truck. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
All drivers involved were confirmed to be sober and possessed valid driving licenses.
Subsequent Vehicle Fire
At approximately 6:12 AM, while clearing the wreckage, one of the trucks – the one that initially hit the trailer – caught fire. The fire originated from a fuel tank leak and subsequent self-ignition in the tractor unit.
Three fire crews were dispatched to the scene to extinguish the blaze.
Extent of Traffic Impact
The incident caused disruptions in both directions of traffic. The lane towards Terespol was completely blocked, while two lanes were closed in the direction of Poznań.
Firefighters also spent time removing fuel from the damaged vehicles’ tanks, prolonging the operation.
Ongoing Delays and Estimated Clearance Time
As of 9:00 AM, traffic remained blocked towards Terespol, with a backlog exceeding 11 kilometers, starting near Brwinów in the Pruszków County. Many drivers exited the highway at the Pruszków interchange, causing additional congestion on local roads.
Authorities anticipated the complete clearance of the highway by 10:00 AM.
