It was miraculous the driver of a vehicle that was completely crushed underneath a truck in Tuesday’s horror fatal crash near Dubbo survived, police say.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Two people died at the scene on the Newell Highway north of the city in the seven-vehicle collision.
It is believed a south-bound semi-trailer hit the other vehicles from behind while they were stopped at roadworks.
Among the wreckage was one vehicle “completely crushed underneath a truck”, Orana Mid-Western Police District Commander Peter McKenna said on Wednesday.
“The driver of that was completely enveloped by the weight of the truck and he miraculously survived after being freed by the specialist rescue operators,” Superintendent McKenna said.
The driver of that was completely enveloped by the weight of the truck and he miraculously survived after being freed by the specialist rescue operators.
- Police Superintendent Peter McKenna
He praised those working on the intricate operation, who were “very good at what they do”.
“Thankfully he [the driver] was conscious and responsive the whole time,” Superintendent McKenna said.
“They managed to free him and get him to the medical assistance he required.”
Read more:
A total of 11 people were treated at the scene, with some taken to Dubbo Hospital and others taken to hospitals in Sydney.
Superintendent McKenna said the people who survived the crash were “extremely lucky”.
It could have been many more fatalities, but thankfully was not, he said.
The Newell Highway remained closed to all traffic at the scene overnight while officers from the Crash Investigation Unit meticulously examined the scene.
While that work has now been completed and the highway has re-opened, investigations are ongoing.
Investigators are also continuing to appeal for assistance from any person with information about the crash who has not yet spoken to police.
Faye Wheeler
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
