The M1 has reopened in both directions south of Newcastle after a fiery collision between three trucks and a car that killed a tanker driver.
The crash occurred around 1pm on Monday causing an explosion and then a bushfire after one of the trucks clipped a tanker laden with ethanol, NSW Police say.
It's believed another truck was swerving to avoid hitting an abandoned car on the side of the motorway.
The male tanker driver was found dead at the scene, while the driver of the car was treated for minor burns and the third was uninjured.
The dead driver has not been formally identified, police said Tuesday.
One northbound lane opened at 6.30pm on Monday, with all lanes on the M1 reopening at 3.45am Tuesday following an extensive salvage operation and clean-up operation.
A 200-metre exclusion zone had been enforced due to concerns the tanker could explode.
About 15 hectares of bushland was burnt.
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