The A7 motorway is closed in the town of Chasse-sur-Rhône, near Lyon in Isère, due to a major traffic accident involving a heavy goods vehicle and a car, announced Vinci Autoroutes and the prefecture of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region Wednesday May 18.
The motorway will remain closed "
in both directions of traffic between Valence and Chasse-sur-Rhône until Thursday May 19 until 6 a.m.
", indicates the prefect.
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The accident happened late Wednesday morning.
A light vehicle, whose 70-year-old driver was taken care of in serious condition by the emergency services according to information from the
Dauphiné Libéré
, collided with a truck transporting hazardous materials.
The heavy weight lay down on the roadway at the time of impact, causing a leak of toxic and flammable product.
According to the Vienna public prosecutor interviewed by the local daily, "
a Kia-type car was seen swerving from the exit of the Reventin-Vaugris toll in the direction of Lyon
".
Arriving at Chasse-sur-Rhône, “
the car, continuing to zigzag on the highway carriageways, crashed.
Unable to avoid it, the truck crashed into the car before going to bed.
»
A security perimeter was set up within a radius of 1.5 kilometers around the accident.
110 firefighters were mobilized, as well as firefighters and gendarmes.
Traffic jams are observed over many kilometres.
The prefect "
strongly recommends motorists stuck in traffic jams (...) to hydrate regularly and to call the fire brigade at 18 in the event of a health problem
", is it written in a press release from the prefect of the Rhône .