Chaos on major highway after 10-vehicle collision, truck driver trapped
A driver is free after becoming 'severely trapped' in their truck in a multi-vehicle collision on a bridge on a major Sydney motorway, sparking chaos on the roads during peak hour.
The M1 Pacific Motorway has been shut for commuters after a truck and a car crashed on the Hawkesbury River Bridge in Mooney shortly before7.20am on Thursday,leading to significant outbound delays.
'On arrival, officers attached to Brisbane Water Police District and Highway Patrol found up to 10 vehicles involved including a truck,' a NSW Police spokesman told NewsWire.
There was no fire but the truck driver became trapped inside the vehicle.
Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry told 2GB the truck driver was 'severely trapped' inside the vehicle for 90 minu tes, with crews working to remove him.
'We have a very serious crash, someone severely trapped in one of the vehicles, ambulance paramedics are on the scene stabilising,' he said.
Emergency crews, including a tow truck and Toll helicopter, are on the scene.
Superintendent Dewberry told 2GB that firefighters were also on the scene to 'work out how to rescue this person out of the vehicle'.
'That includes cutting and pushing of the vehicle to gain access to it so they can treat the injuries and then get them out and into hospital as soon as possible,' he said.
As of 8.40am, the truck driver was freed from the vehicle. They suffered leg and pelvis injuries, a NSW Ambulance spokesperson told NewsWire.
Cars are at a standstill along the motorway, with traffic stretching for kilometres.
One northbound lane remains closed and all lanes are closed southbound, with diversions at Mount White.
Live Traffic NSW said only light vehicles were able to make it through the Mount White interchange.
'Heavy vehicles are being parked on site,' a Transport for NSW spokesperson told NewsWire.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area and 'allow plenty of extra travel time'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Supercars, Perth: Matt Payne fastest through practice sessions
Just like the Socceroos did the night before, rising New Zealand star Matt Payne timed his run to perfection to jump to the top of the timesheets during Friday's two wild practice sessions for the Perth Super 440. Following on from his blistering finish to win the last Supercars race in Tasmania four weeks ago, the 22-year-old Kiwi uncorked another sizzling lap in his Penrite Ford Mustang to leapfrog his rivals and send them a clear message that he means business. 'Credit to the guys. They did an awesome job,' Payne said. 'I know we've got the best crew here. 'We're working our (backsides) off to get this thing fast and thankfully we did. It's pretty cool. Press on for tomorrow.' After finishing 16th in the first practice session then getting caught in traffic behind David Reynolds approaching the end of the second hitout, Payne calmly resettled himself for one more shot just before the chequered flag was waved. Driving flat to the boards, Payne nailed it and lapped the Wanneroo Raceway in 54.3903 seconds, setting the stage for an epic finish to a mammoth week in Perth after the Socceroos' thrilling win over Japan that all but secured Australia's place at next year's FIFA World Cup. 'It's just part of our session, I knew we were going to get a little bit baulked by Reynolds there, so I just backed out of it and went again,' Payne said. 'Everyone stayed cool, and it's a really, really awesome turnaround from practice 1, which wasn't ideal for us rolling out of the truck the way we did. 'It's a real credit to the guys to get it tuned up and get it to the front for practice 2.' Anton De Pasquale was second quickest, just 0.0856s behind Payne, with Thomas Randle third, just ahead of current championship leader Broc Feeney, who released a video of himself behind the wheel of his Chevrolet Camaro competing in a tug-o-war with NRL and NRLW stars from the Bulldogs. With qualifying set to take place on Saturday then three races split over the weekend, no-one is taking anything for granted with the top seven cars all from different teams. Sitting third on the championship standings after winning three of the last six races, Payne was feeling upbeat about his rapid turnaround but was also wary about reading too much into the results. 'It's tough. It's only two 30 minute practice sessions so you got to squeeze everything you can in,' he said. 'We did a really good job of just going through what we did in practice 1. We tried a lot so yeah credit to the guys, they did an awesome job.' The second session was red flagged when Lochie Dalton spun into the sand and almost rolled his car, while a lot of drivers complained about blistering on their super soft tyres on a track known for wearing out the rubber. Another Kiwi, Jaxon Evans set the pace in the opening practice session after benefiting from a rule giving new drivers an extra set of tyres. 'It's really nice to finish the session on top, the first time I've done it in Supercars,' he said. 'Being my second year in the championship, I get an extra set of tyres, so we obviously put them to good use. 'It's just nice to know that the car is fast and I hope we can continue that way for the rest of the weekend.'
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Review: 2025 Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid
This is the most powerful E-class Mercedes currently makes and perhaps one of the most polarising. The range-topping AMG E 53 Hybrid 4MATIC+ trades in the brand's V8 for a quieter plug-in hybrid powertrain. It's still brutally fast, incredibly expensive and packed with a ton of features, but it's no longer the muscle car it once was. It might be a better car. At just under $199,000 before on-road costs, the E 53 Hybrid now sits at the top of the E-Class tree. Yes, the price has jumped by approximately $26,000 over the outgoing E 53 model. But for context it's also about $50,000 cheaper than the previous-generation E 63 V8. The E 63 S V8 offered 450kW, hit 100km/h in 3.4 seconds and drank fuel like it was free (officially 12L/100km, but double that if you're heavy with the throttle). This one matches the power, offering a combined 450kW of power and 750Nm of torque – doing so with a 3.0 litre six-cylinder engine and electric motor. The sprint is 3.8 seconds, only a fraction slower than the E 63. It sips just 1.7L of fuel per 100km (NEDC tested) but that figure might be a stretch unless you constantly plug in. It's fast, like seriously fast. There's less noise than a V8 but it feels just as responsive. The electric motor alone will get you up to 100km of range, perfect for zipping around the city. Put your foot down in Sports+ and the car really becomes alive, it's confident, composed and definitely not boring. But honestly? you don't even need sports mode, as comfort mode delivers plenty of fun and is just as engaging. With its aggressive stance, crisp AMG lines, and that signature Panamericana grille, this is a sexy car. Inside, it's not your classic Mercedes. The cabin is bold, digital and hi-tech. For some it might be a sensory overload, there's ambient lighting that changes colour, Mercedes MBUX screen, blending a 14.4-inch central display with dual 12.3-inch driver and passenger screens. The passenger screen is cleverly designed to be invisible to the driver – keeping distractions to a minimum. The seats are supportive with heating, ventilation and massage. But the sports seats are firm, a bit too firm for my liking, you can opt for the standard seats. The split panoramic roof is a nice touch and lets in plenty of light. Rear passengers are well catered for and the boot allows 370L of luggage, which is sufficient for a few overnight bags or small suitcases. The Audi S6 and BMW M550i are obvious rivals but lack the same blend of plug-in tech and speed. I don't think the AMG E 53 Hybrid is trying to replace the V8. It's a modern kind of AMG – one that fits the brand well.
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
First Drive: 2025 Volkswagen Golf R
The corner's a sharp left, but our Volkswagen Golf R is pitched violently right – quite on purpose – by megawatt-smiling racing driver Benny Leuchter. The German Nürburgring ace has just begun a 'Scandinavian flick' on a bone-dry Sydney Motorsport Park track, deliberately unsettling our all-wheel-drive Golf before muscling it in the opposite direction to clip the corner apex. Of course, we're now doing this completely sideways – Sebastien Loeb on ice style – in a wall of noise and tyre smoke, while we passengers are flung around like rollercoaster riders. It's riotously magnificent, and a high-speed illustration of the talents of both driver and this halo Golf, now in revised Mk 8.5 generation. The beaming Leuchter helped develop the hyper hatchback, with specific focus on responsiveness, smarter gear changes from its seven-speed dual clutch auto and 'giving a bit more feel for racing characteristics,' he said. Mission very much accomplished. A 10kW and 20Nm hike for its 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine helps; clever software fettling now pushing the four-cylinder to 245kW and 420Nm – trumping rivals like the Honda Civic Type R, Toyota GR Corolla, BMW M135 and Mercedes-AMG A35. Our Golf R cracks 100km/h quicker than all the above too; a rapid 4.6 seconds using launch control. And, from $70,990 before on-roads, it near price-matches the Civic and Corolla, then is $10k+ cheaper than the German premiums. It's still a damn pricey Golf – twice that of an entry-level one – but its performance, features, tech and all-round talents make it feel solid value. Standard are matrix LED headlights, illuminated front end, 19-inch alloys, Nappa leather, heated, cooled and power seats, tri-zone climate control and Harman Kardon audio. The previous Golf R's not-great infotainment's been replaced by an imposing 12.9-inch effort with navigation and 360-degree camera. This alone helps justify the $500 price hike. The cabin's austere in its blackness, but feels classy and sporty without overdoing it. Grumbles? Haptic feedback buttons remain on the steering wheel, while climate's through the screen not proper buttons. Plastics are harder for rear occupants, but as it's a Golf, there's ample space for two back here, and the boot's big enough for family life. Our Central Tablelands road drive is over some of the choppiest, wettest and most potholed roads I've experienced. Absolute godsend is the Golf R's 15-setting adaptive damping. In Comfort mode the ride quality's surprisingly excellent; the engine's at low simmer and our R feels every inch a sensible daily driver. Hot hatches like the Hyundai i30N are challengingly crashy in comparison. Sport modes add more fizz and attack to engine, steering and noise, then Race pushes it further, while setting suspension to spine bashing. Best trick is 'Special' Nürburgring mode. As the hellish German racetrack demands peak acceleration but soft suspension for its bumpy surface, this well suits rural NSW roads. It's also uncommonly easy to drive quickly with all the confidence. Brutally fast with uninterrupted pull, it's at its most grin-bringing after 4000rpm. Yet it still exudes maturity rather than raw mongrel, unlike, say, a 100kg lighter Civic Type R. Tell your pub mates it's the R's torque-vectoring rear differential that cleverly helps glue it to tight corners, and even offers rear-wheel-drive vibes as torque's independently sent to each back corner. Hit track-suited Drift mode to enjoy tyre-shredding circle work. The engine's lightning-responsive thanks to the turbo kept spinning in 'ready-to-go' mode; gear shifts respond to braking and steering angle, or you can take full charge through paddles. Agile, madly rapid and very hard to unsettle – even on our short track blast – but the R's exhaust note could be more raucous, and it's a shame no manual gearbox (nor wagon version) is offered. It slurped 15L/100km of 95 RON on twisty backroads, while $3640 for five years' servicing stings. All forgivable considering the performance abilities. VW's offering 300 Black Edition models for an extra $1500, boasting blackness for lights, grille, tailpipes, brake callipers and VW logos, plus lightweight Warmenau 19-inch alloys, shaving 2kg off each corner. Alternative is a $6500 Warmenau Package, adding the 8kg rims, real carbon trim and fruitier Akrapovic titanium exhaust. VERDICT: 4 stars Brilliantly effective, fast and planted as a backroad hero, then shines in suburbia with its trick suspension. An all-round performance hero. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R VITALS THIRST: 8.3L/100km
