On the morning of 6/8, Nguyen Chi Dat, residing in Dong Hoa ward, was driving his car on the Chi Thanh - Van Phong expressway, heading from Song Cau to Dong Hoa. As he passed Tuy An Bac commune, he heard a loud noise and pulled his car into the emergency lane to check.

A triangular metal shard, sharp at one end and about 10-15 cm long, was embedded in his tire. At the same time, three other cars also experienced flat tires, forcing them to stop on the expressway while awaiting rescue services.

Sharp metal shards caused flat tires for many cars on the expressway. Photo: Driver provided

Since his tire still had some air, Dat drove to National Highway 29 for repairs. There, he encountered many other drivers in the same predicament. One truck had 6 flat tires, while another had sharp objects embedded in 4 of its tires.

Doan Duy Thoai, from Gia Lai, reported that around 2h on the same day, he was driving from the old Phu Yen area towards Nha Trang. Upon reaching the Quy Nhon - Chi Thanh expressway, near Song Cau ward, his car got a flat tire, and he had to stop and wait for rescue.

Many sharp metal shards were embedded in car tires on the expressway. Photo: Driver provided

The sharp objects appeared most frequently on the Quy Nhon - Chi Thanh section, according to Pham Truong Vu, Director of the Chi Thanh - Van Phong Expressway Project Management Board. On the Chi Thanh - Van Phong section, the management unit mobilized personnel for early morning collection to ensure safety.

A representative from the Quy Nhon - Chi Thanh expressway operating unit stated that initial reports indicated more than 10 cars had damaged tires. Functional forces have since swept and collected metal fragments from the road surface.

A scrap metal truck was impounded by functional forces. Photo: Expressway operating unit

Initial information suggests that the metal debris may have fallen from a truck transporting scrap metal, which traveled through the chain of expressways from Quang Ngai - Hoai Nhon to Cam Lam - Vinh Hao. The Traffic Police Department has impounded the vehicle near the Nui Vung tunnel area in Khanh Hoa for further investigation.

Bui Toan - Tran Hoa