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B-double semi-trailer crashed into two work vehicles Firemen free trapped dog

Photos: Sarah Stock

Three road workers were hospitalised after a B-double semi-trailer crashed into two work trucks on the M1 Pacific Motorway in the early hours of Tuesday, June 1.

Emergency services were called to the southbound lanes at Alison at about 4am after the B-double crashed through a work zone and hit a slowmoving Hino truck, causing it to flip and hit a stationary truck, which then hit a road worker.

The B-double was well alight when firefighters arrived but the driver, a 62-year-old man, was able to free himself and escape injury.

Firefighters worked quickly to extinguish the fire and prevent further spread to the surrounding grass areas.

The B-double driver was taken to Gosford Hospital for observation and mandatory tests.

The driver of the Hino work truck, a 43-year-old man, suffered serious injuries.

He was taken to John Hunter Hospital, along with the injured road worker, aged 58.

They both remain in a stable condition.

A second female road worker took evasive action and avoided injury.

She was taken to Wyong Hospital suffering shock and was released by early afternoon.

Officers from Tuggerah Lakes Police District established a crime scene and specialist officers from the Metropolitan Crash Investigation Unit attended to examine the scene.

An investigation is underway and any witnesses or anyone with dashcam vision are urged to contact CrimeStoppers.

The southbound lanes of the M1 remained closed with local diversions in place but the accident caused major traffic delays, with cars banked up for many kilometres along the M1.

Other detours around the accident site became clogged with traffic at morning peak hour, stretching as far away as Toukley, San Remo and all around Wyong and Tuggerah.

Contra flow traffic conditions were put in place with two southbound lanes and one northbound lane in place in the northbound carriageway.

By 10am all northbound lanes and two southbound lanes were again open, but traffic was still slow while the cleanup and salvage took place.

Rural Fire Service crews from Berkeley Vale, Hamlyn Terrace and Budgewoi attended the accident and ensuing cleanup, along with NSW Police, NSW Ambulance and Roads and Maritime.

It was the first night of roadworks planned by Transport for NSW for the coming two weeks, to carry out routine maintenance to the expansion joints on the six bridges over Deep Creek, north of McPherson Rd.

Sue Murray

Pepper the dog, and the Firies that rescued her from the fence The Entrance Fire Brigade do much more than fight blazes.

On ANZAC Day, April 25, they got a call to free a trapped dog.

Pepper the dog ran away to see her four-legged friend Arthur and, in the process, got her head stuck in a stone brick fence.

“My dog Arthur has playdates regularly with Pepper, the three-legged dog who lives just around the corner.

“Pepper went missing and her owners were very distressed and called at our house and all along the street to try to find her.

“After a couple of hours my son heard a whimper coming from the back fence, Pepper had her head stuck in the fence trying to visit our dog, Arthur. “We tried getting her out, but we couldn’t do it, so we rang the fire brigade, who came to the rescue even thought they were getting ready for the parade on ANZAC Day. “While we were waiting, I went and got her some water to try and calm her down as she was very distressed, and she had very bloodshot eyes,” Arthur’s owner, Joanne Sippel, said. “Once the firemen were on scene, it only took 15 minutes to free Pepper, and luckily, they didn’t need to use the jaws of life. “They had Pepper free in no time with a bit of maneuvering. “She was a very lucky and relieved dog. “The Firies were wonderful and calming, freeing Pepper in no time at all.” Sippel said. Since the fence incident, a fly screen has gone up over the fence to ensure something like this does not happen again in the future. “She has been visiting since, and her and Arthur have multiple playdates a week. “They are very good friends.” Sippel said.