Five new utility vehicles have been destroyed after a car-carrier crashed into a bridge railing on the Pacific Highway on the Mid North Coast overnight.
Emergency services were called to Curreeki Creek Bridge at Coolongolook, 50km south of Taree, about 9.30pm (Tuesday 17 November 2020), after the southbound prime mover hit and destroyed the side of the concrete bridge.
The driver told police he saw flames coming from the engine hood immediately before the crash.
He was able to escape before the entire rig and five new utes were engulfed by flames.
The 28-year-old man from Windsor, Queensland, suffered a fracture to his right lower leg after escaping the cabin. He's been taken to Manning Base Hospital for treatment and to undergo mandatory testing.
The Pacific Highway was closed for two hours while the fire was extinguished; southbound lanes were closed for an additional two hours; it will be closed later today to enable the removal of the wreckage. Check www.livetraffic.com for updates.
Inquiries are continuing.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
