A man has died after a crash involving two B-double trucks on the Hume Highway in NSW.
NSW Police said emergency services were called to the site at Little Billabong, north of Holbrook, just before 6pm on Thursday following reports the two trucks had collided.
The 61-year old driver of one of the trucks died at the scene.
The 44-year-old driver of the other truck was not injured but taken to the nearby Culcairn Hospital for mandatory testing.
The highway was closed to southbound traffic for 14 hours, with vehicles diverted around Tumbarumba Road and Little Billabong Road.
It reopened just before 8am.
Greater Hume Shire council deputy mayor Annette Schilg said it was disappointing to see another fatality on NSW roads.
“It doesn’t seem to be improving,” she said.
“It’s very tragic to have a fatality again, somebody’s family member not coming home. It’s never something you want to hear.
“Everyone needs to be careful on the road.”
Road toll rising
There have been 62 fatal heavy truck crashes in the 12 months up to May 2024, 27 more than the previous 12 months, with 64 people losing their lives.
The death toll on NSW roads is on the rise again this year, with 140 lives lost so far in 2024, compared to 120 at this time in 2023.
Over the past 12 months 370 people have died, compared to 279 in the previous year.
Truck safety advocate Rod Hannifey said lack of driver experience in the trucking industry had contributed to an increase in these types of accidents in recent years.
But he said the state of NSW roads was also poor.
“The roads are a contributing factor in a number of crashes and it’s not recognised,” he said.
“The roads haven’t kept pace.”
Mr Hannifey also wanted to see a national standard to implement more regular rest areas on Australian highways to help reduce driver fatigue.
“For 20 years I’ve been asking for decent rest areas … we need somewhere that is safe and allows us to get good sleep,” he said.
Officers attached to Murray River Police District are investigating the crash and have asked anyone who witnessed the incident, or has dash cam footage, to contact Crime Stoppers.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
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