A truck driver has escaped serious injury after the car carrier he was driving – and the five new utes it was carrying – were engulfed in flames after his truck crashed into a bridge railing on the Pacific Highway on the Mid North Coast.
Emergency services were called to Curreeki Creek Bridge at Coolongolook, 50km south of Taree, at about 9.30pm on Tuesday night, after the southbound prime mover hit and destroyed the side of the concrete bridge.
The 28-year-old Queensland-based driver told police he saw flames coming from the engine hood immediately before the crash. Luckily he escaped from the cabin before the entire rig caught alight.
The driver suffered a fracture to his right lower leg after escaping the cabin and was takento 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. Inquiries are continuing.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.