An out-of-control semi-trailer crashed in Singleton's George St on Wednesday morning, after it took out five cars and caused damage to buildings including a local pub and an antique store.
Singleton truck crash: How it unfolded
- 7.30am: Semi-trailer allegedly stolen from a service station at Murrurundi in the Hunter Valley.
- 8.47am: Triple-zero call made to NSW Ambulance alerting them to a major multi-vehicle crash on George Street in Singleton 110km away, after a truck came crashing through the main street at high speed hitting five cars and several buildings.
- 8.55am: First ambulance arrives at the scene attending to several distressed people and treating eight patients.
- 9.15am: Westpac Rescue Helicopter sent to the scene with reports of multiple people injured.
- 10.18am: A second helicopter summoned from Sydney as a 67-year-old male was airlifted to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.
- 1pm: Police confirm 29-year-old man arrested at the scene is expected to be charged after he allegedly recklessly drove the stolen truck from Murrurundi to Singleton during road spikes were deployed to stop the truck.
NSW Ambulance have confirmed four people were hospitalised, one in a critical condition.
Before the chaos at Singleton, a sleepy town on the fringe of the NSW Hunter Valley, the semi-trailer was allegedly stolen by a 29-year-old man at a Murrurundi service station, more than 100km away.
It's claimed the truck was stolen while the driver was paying for fuel about 7.30am Wednesday. It's believed the truck was carrying compost.
The alleged thief then continued driving along the New England Highway.
Police deployed road spikes as the truck approached Singleton, Inspector Robert Post told reporters.
After the truck hit the spikes, it managed to continue driving for a few more kilometres and crashed into cars and buildings about 8.45am.
Footage uploaded to Facebook by Clifton Brett showed the damage left in the fiery aftermath.
A car damaged at Singleton on Wednesday morning when a stolen truck caused chaos in the town. Source: AAP
"The driving of the truck was reckless, to say the least, and criminal to say the worst," Insp Post said.
"It was quite a daunting scene for our first responders," he said.
"Obviously this could have been a lot worse but it's bad enough the way it stands."
The driver was arrested and charges are expected to be laid.
The licensee of the Horse and Jockey Hotel described the aftermath as "absolute carnage".
"I could hear the (truck) and brakes screeching and just crash after crash after crash," Daniel Storey told AAP.
Paramedics arrived to find the truck on fire.
Seven ambulances responded on the ground along with the NSW Ambulance and Westpac rescue helicopter and the NSW Ambulance and Toll rescue helicopter.
NSW Ambulance Inspector Luke Wiseman said a total of eight patients were assessed at the scene and four were transported to hospital.
“We treated four patients at the scene, including one 64-year-old male in a critical condition with head and chest injuries, and a 62-year-old female with pelvic and hip injuries,” he said.
“The critical male patient was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital and the female patient with hip injuries was transported by road to John Hunter Hospital.
A 64-year-old male patient with neck, chest and back pain was also taken by road to John Hunter Hospital by road.
Two other patients are in reported to be in a stable condition.
“It seems that the people involved were just going about their usual morning business, having coffee along the main street when this accident happened out of nowhere,” Inspector Wiseman said.
“It’s always going to be tough dealing with a scene like this. The scale and the suddenness of the incident and the fact that it has happened in a smaller community means a lot of people are in shock, so it was a challenging scene.”
Australian Trucking Association CEO Ben Maguire said the incident was a “wake-up call” for truckies to secure their vehicles.
He said the case was a shock and has hit home amongst the trucking community.
“An incident resulting from an unsecure truck as we have seen in Singleton today, can have a devastating impact,” he said.
“Trucks and other commercial vehicles are easy to access, and this is a warning to all drivers and operators that trucks and loads must be secured at all times.
“Keeping your trucks safe and secure is absolutely essential in today’s heightened security environment, no matter where you are, how small the rest stop or how safe you feel. Sadly, this has become our new norm.”
The truck crashed into several cars and buildings in Singleton, NSW. Source: AAP
Mr Maguire said about 1200 trucks are stolen each year from a national fleet of 500,000.
Singleton Council said the New England Highway would most likely remain closed until Thursday.
A NSW Police spokeswoman told SBS News a man was assisting police with inquiries but no charges had been laid at this stage.
Share
