Looters helped themselves to dairy products strewn across the N3 in Gauteng after two trucks collided head-on near the Heidelberg off-ramp on Tuesday morning.

Pictures on social media showed people helping themselves to milk, yoghurt and other dairy products.

Chief fire officer in Heidelberg, Clement Masinge, said the accident happened around 02:30.

A tanker transporting 33 000 litres of milk crashed into a smaller truck carrying about 25 tons of dairy products, including yoghurt and juices.

“Some motorists had stopped and had started looting before the police arrived. When I got there, I barricaded the area and the situation was brought under control,” he said.

The highway was closed off and motorists were diverted to the R23 through Heidelberg, towards Johannesburg.

The driver of the smaller truck sustained injuries to his face and bruises on his leg. He was taken to Heidelberg Hospital. The other driver was unhurt.

The highway was closed until about 09:00 to clean up the mess. The cause of the crash was yet to be established, Masinge said.

Source: News 24 wire