Police have raided a trucking company involved in a crash in Dubbo last week that resulted in the death of two children and the serious injury of a third, NSW Police say.
About 3.30am on Thursday 6 May 2017, a B-Double, driven by a 53-year-old man, and a 4WD crashed on the Newell Highway at Dubbo.
As a result of the crash, two of the five occupants of the 4WD, a seven-year-old boy and a nine-year-old boy, died at the scene.
A third child, a five-year-old boy, was taken to hospital with serious injuries and has since been released.
Investigations into the crash are continuing.
About 6am this morning today, officers from the Joint Traffic Task Force’s Operation Astron, comprising of officer from NSW Police Traffic & Highway Patrol with the assistance of Roads and Maritime Inspectors, raided the trucking company involved in the crash.
Officers from Operation Astron raided two NSW sites for the company in Dursley Road, Yennora, and Tighe Street, Dubbo.
During Operation Astron, 142 truck and trailers were inspected, where;
- 12 electronic speed limiter downloads were conducted, with two found to be non-compliant.
- 20 infringements were issued for a range of offences.
- 22 defect notices, including 15 major defects, were issued for a variety of defects,
- One driver was found to be not carrying a licence, and
- 29 drivers were tested for drugs.
Sites for the same company were also raided by police from other States today.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy of the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command, said Joint Traffic Task Force operations are run to save lives of all road users.
"This morning our Joint Traffic Task Force raided a transport company with depots in Dubbo, Yennora and across Australia.
"The operation was in response to a tragic crash last week in which two children died, leaving a family to grieve for the rest of their lives.
"The operation is about reducing these types of crashes, to ensure the safety of road-users in NSW and across the country.
"During the operation we have found there to be trucks with unsecure loads and tired drivers.
"We make no apologies for detecting and prosecuting these types of offences which are putting lives at risk," Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.
Roads and Maritime Director of Compliance Roger Weeks said it was disappointing the operation revealed trucks with unsecure loads and seven with major defects.
"This is another serious reminder for all parties in the transport supply chain of the risks associated with heavy vehicle transport.
"Roads and Maritime is responsible for detecting, investigating and prosecuting breaches of the chain of responsibility laws.
"All parties in the road transport supply chain need to take positive steps to prevent mass, load restraint, dimension, and fatigue and speed offences or face fines," Mr Weeks said.
