Five people have been taken to hospital after a multi-vehicle crash involving a fuel tanker on the Pacific Motorway, at the northern Gold Coast.
The truck fell on its side in the southbound lanes near Helensvale, spilling fuel on the road, just before midday, prompting authorities to declare an emergency situation on the M1.
All lanes were closed in both directions between the Gold Coast Highway (exit 62) and Smith Street (exit 66) but reopened shortly before 8pm.
Aerial pictures showed at least two other vehicles were involved in the crash.
A Queensland Ambulance spokesperson said five people were treated on the scene and have been taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital.
They included a 21-year-old woman who was covered in fuel and was in a serious but stable condition.
A 25-year-old man, who was the driver of the tanker, suffered no reported injuries.
Two other men in their 20s were uninjured, while a woman in her 20s was in a stable condition after suffering a head knock.
Police said the tanker was carrying 36,000 litres of fuel in six separate compartments, which needed to be drained before the truck could be moved.
Extracted from ABC