A truck driver has died following a collision between a road train carrying aerosols and a grocery truck on the Hume Highway in New South Wales. Emergency services were called to the northbound lanes of the highway at Breadalbane, approximately 32 kilometers southwest of Goulburn, on Friday at 4:10 a.m. after reports of a heavy vehicle crash and fire.
Upon arrival, Fire and Rescue NSW found both vehicles engulfed in flames. Preliminary investigations suggest the B-double had experienced mechanical issues and broken down in lane one. The driver of the B-double, a 31-year-old man, had exited the vehicle, activated his hazard lights, and notified other drivers via radio of the breakdown.
A second heavy vehicle then collided with the rear of the stationary B-double. The driver of this second vehicle was found deceased at the scene by emergency services and has not yet been formally identified.
NSW Police Superintendent Linda Bradbury stated that inquiries are ongoing to identify the deceased driver and notify their family. The driver of the B-double sustained minor injuries and was taken to Yass hospital for mandatory testing. The fire from the collision continued to smolder, with firefighters remaining on scene to extinguish the blaze. The Hume Highway at Breadalbane has since reopened in both directions with a contra-flow implemented around the crash site. Police are appealing for any witnesses or individuals with information to contact Crime Stoppers.