'CAUGHT FIRE': Border closed after horrific three-truck crash
A major border crossing between Victoria and South Australia has been closed after a driver died in a horrific crash that involved three trucks.
Just after 2am on Thursday, a truck crashed into the back of a stationary truck before it collided with a truck in front of it on the Western Highway at Serviceton, near the Bordertown checkpoint after South Australia introduced border restrictions overnight.
Victoria Police said in a statement all three trucks caught on fire and the driver of the first truck, who is yet to be identified, died at the scene.
Emergency crews are still on scene and an investigation into the incident has commenced.
The Dukes Highway at the border of Victoria and South Australia is now closed to each state and people are urged not to travel via Bordertown.
“SA motorists heading to Victoria are being diverted south onto Meatworks Road towards Naracoorte, access to Victoria will be via the Wimmera Highway,” SA Police said in a statement.
“Police at Bordertown are currently processing a backlog of travellers who arrived prior to midnight, but will not accept new vehicles. Please plan ahead and go via an alternate route.”
Witnesses detail fiery highway crash
SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens told ABC Radio Adelaide the two other drivers of the trucks had been taken to hospital with minor injuries.
“My understanding is the trucks were heading to South Australia. One truck has gone into the rear of another vehicle and forced it into another truck, and those trucks were already in a line waiting to enter South Australia.
“This is clearly a tragic set of circumstances where a person has lost their life, but the reality is we’ve been doing these checkpoints for months and months. There are always going to be obstructions on our roads.”
🚨TRAFFIC ALERT🚨 Western Hwy (A8) - The Western Highway is closed at Serviceton.
At least one person has died after a collision on the Western Hwy at Serviceton this morning.
Investigators have been told a truck crashed into the rear of a stationary truck about 2.20am.
1/3 pic.twitter.com/4cep4Z1vWt— Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) February 10, 2021
A truck driver who witnessed the crash also told ABC Radio Adelaide he “saw a blast” around the time of the crash.
“I felt the explosion of the truck that ran into the back of the other vehicle,” he said.
He added it took five hours to drive just 10 kilometres.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online.
More to come.
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