Three drivers have been taken to hospital, one in critical condition, after a multi-vehicle crash on the Bruce Highway just south of Miriam Vale in Queensland earlier this morning.
A 98km stretch of the Bruce Highway remains closed in both directions and is expected to remain that way for most of the day, said police.
A diversion for motorists is in place from Gin Gin via Mulgrave Street into Bundaberg Gin Gin Road, Rosedale Road, Lowmead Road, Tableland Road through Fingerboard Road to Miriam Vale.
But it is not suitable for heavy vehicles.
Leanne Dyer from the Facebook group On The Pads Australia told Big Rigs that the only immediate solution she could see for truckies is to get on to the Burnett Highway, if possible.
“If they get on to the Burnett Highway up to Biloela and across to Calliope, it’s a big detour but the only one I can see that B-doubles can use,” Dyer said.
Police say a truck crashed at about 2am, with four other trucks becoming involved in the accident.
Big Rigs understands that fog and a hazard reduction burn affected driver visibility.
Two ambulances travelling to the scene also become involved in the crash.
According to reports, the paramedics received minor injuries but were able to continue to manage the scene and treat patients before being assessed at hospital later in the morning.
Police also said a man in his 20s with significant head and leg injuries was taken to Gladstone Hospital.
A second man in his 50s was also taken to Gladstone Hospital with life-threatening head, hip and leg injuries, and a man in his 20s with head, chest and leg injuries was taken to Bundaberg Hospital.
A Queensland Fire Department spokesman said fire crews used hydraulic tools to release three people who had been trapped in the vehicles as a result of the crash.
Tow-truck driver Corey Hindley told ABC News he had to swerve quickly to avoid being caught up in the accident and said visibility was low.
He said the ambulances crashed into a reversing truck trying to get off the road.
“The B-double’s tried to get off the road and one ambulance has followed the other one and they’ve both hit the truck, then pushed them straight into the ditch,” Hindley said.
“I probably had five metres before I just saw the hazard lights of the truck and they’re half on the road as well, coming around the bend.
“I’ve been in this game for 30-something years and I’ve seen it all. But you just didn’t expect it, just a dead stop like that with no warning.”
