A veteran truck driver with three decades behind the wheel is facing months of recovery after surviving a horrific early-morning crash on the Hume Highway near Berrima, NSW, that left him with life-threatening injuries.
Michael Shelton, 50, known throughout the industry as Mick, was seriously injured at about 3.42am on January 8 when the truck he was driving for Refrigerated Road Express struck a B-double allegedly stopped in the middle of the lane, with no lights on.
According to his family, Mick was travelling at the speed limit of 100km/h when the crash occurred, through no fault of his own. In the moments before impact, he managed to swerve just enough to avoid taking the full force of the collision, a split-second move his family says ultimately saved his life.
Despite the severity of the crash, Mick remained conscious while trapped inside the wreckage of his truck for around 90 minutes.
During that time, he was supported by a fellow truck driver who witnessed the incident and stayed by his side, helping to keep him calm while calling in emergency services.
His family has since also expressed deep gratitude to the paramedics and emergency crews who worked to free him from the wreckage. Mick required resuscitation at the scene before being airlifted to Liverpool Hospital, where doctors fought to stabilise his injuries.
The crash left Mick with catastrophic chest injuries, including multiple fractures to 10 ribs and a cracked sternum and that required extensive surgery. Surgeons were forced to stabilise his chest using metal plates to hold everything together.
Medical staff later told the family that Mick was extremely lucky to have survived the impact.
In addition to his chest injuries, Mick suffered a large head laceration requiring 12 staples, along with torn shoulder muscles. Due to the severity of his condition and the pain involved, he was placed on life support and kept in an induced coma for four days while doctors worked to stabilise his chest and manage his injuries.
While Mick is now alive and recovering, his family says the road ahead will be long and uncertain.
Doctors have estimated at least eight months of physical rehabilitation before he can begin to regain strength, but the emotional and psychological toll of the crash remains unknown.
In the wake of the crash, his daughter Teghan Shelton has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help ease the financial strain facing the family.
With Mick unable to work and requiring full-time care, Teghan said his wife Paula will need to stay home to support him while still meeting ongoing expenses, including their mortgage.
“This was a traumatic experience,” Teghan writes on the fundraiser page. “Something Mick will have to live with for the rest of his life.”
Mick is described by his family as a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, and a man who is deeply respected by colleagues and friends throughout the transport industry.
“When he comes home from hospital, we want him to feel the relief of not having to worry about anything except recovery,” Teghan said on the GoFundMe post.
“Any funds raised will also help ensure Mick’s wife has the financial support needed while caring for him through the months ahead.”
To donate, click here. At the time of posting, the campaign had already raised $7990 from 53 donations.
Big Rigs has approached NSW Police for more comment. At the time of the incident, Southern Highlands Police Chief Inspector Brendan Bernie said the other uninjured truck driver was assisting police with their investigation.