Truck driver's lucky escape from crash inferno

Police say two truck drivers are lucky to walk with only minor injuries after a crash that caused two trucks to flip.

Just before 5am, emergency paramedics and firefighters rushed to the Old Hume Highway at Yerrinbool, in NSW’s Southern Highlands, following reports two trucks had clipped each other and rolled.

Crews found one truck well alight with “corrosive material”.

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One driver, Ken Donohoe, crawled out of the smashed windscreen of his engulfed truck.

The 61-year-old was helped by other drivers who were stopped by the hundred-metre-tall flames.

“They found him crawling out of the windscreen. We put him on a gate that was on the road from the truck and just carried him out,” witness Liam Brogan told 9News.

Rocco Ramana, the driver of the other truck sustained minor cuts and both were taken to hospital as a precaution and for mandatory testing.

Police have confirmed that the crash happened after one of the truck’s trailers rolled, potentially due to a load not being properly secured.

“One of the heavy vehicles was carrying a hot road mix that spilled over the roadway,” NSW Police spokesman John Klepczarek told 9News.

The driver of the second truck, a prime mover, didn’t see the rolled trailer and swerved to avoid a crash, but clipped the debris and rolled.

The first truck driver, along with a witness, then rushed to save the driver from the wreckage by kicking in the windscreen and dragging him out.

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A spokesperson from the Transport Management Centre said diversions are in place as crews work to clear the debris from the crash.

“The Hume Motorway remains closed northbound at Yerrinbool due to a crash involving two trucks just past Sierra Street,” the TMC spokesperson said.

“Light vehicles travelling north and heavy vehicle combinations up to 19m long and under 4.1m high can divert via the Old Hume Highway through Alpine.

“B-Doubles over 19m in length are being parked however they should avoid the area and consider using an alternative rest area to park.”

Due to the large amount of debris, and the complexity of the clean up the motorway remained closed for the entire day.