According to The Star, the impact of the crash was enough for a container hauled by one of the lorries to come loose. It reportedly smashed into the vehicle’s cabin, cutting the driver’s body in half.

Along with the container, the lorries were said to be carrying chemicals and cooking gas tanks.

A fire and rescue department spokesman said when the emergency response team arrived, they were met with a grisly scene.

“We found the container lorry driver’s body severed, with the top half inside the cabin and the other half among the gas tanks,” he was quoted as saying.

Due to a leakage in the chemicals one of the lorries was hauling, the area was reportedly cordoned off while the Hazardous Materials Unit (Hazmat) dealt with the situation.

The chemical, toluene, is a transparent, water-insoluble liquid mainly used as a solvent in some types of paint thinner, contact cement and model aeroplane glue, The Star said.

The report added that if inhaled, toluene could cause neurological harm.