Lorry driver escapes Whiskey Explosion
Published: September 5, 2003
A lorry driver had a miraculous escape when his quarter of a million pound cargo of whiskey exploded after his container went on fire as he travelled from Bushmills Distillery, Co Antrim.
The lorry containing hundreds of cases of Bushmills and Jameson whiskey was destined for Austria when a fire caused bottles inside the container to explode and shoot into the air.
At around 4pm yesterday, just five miles from the famous distillery, the driver, John Murphy, from Dundalk, began to smell smoke as he made his journey to the ferry.
He was able to jump clear of the lorry unhurt before the flames took hold and the glass bottles encased in metal containers began to shoot into the air.
“I was driving along just planning my route when I thought I could smell smoke. I ignored it for a little bit then it got worse.
“I jumped out of the wagon and went round the back and opened the container.
The whiskey was all on fire and there were bottles flying everywhere, I just don’t understand it.
“I’m not looking forward to explaining this to my boss.”
Fire crews called to the scene had to stand back while thousands of bottles flew several feet and exploded in mid-air showering the area in glass.
The alcohol fuelled the blaze which continued to burn for almost an hour.
The Cloyfin Road was closed for several hours while emergency crews cleared the area of debris.
Fire investigators will examine the cause of the blaze today.
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