A man will appear in court next month after two people have died following a multi-vehicle crash on the M1 Princes Motorway at West Wollongong overnight.
Emergency services were called to the M1 Princes Motorway after a crash in the southbound lanes – near Mt Keira Road overpass – involving six vehicles, including two heavy vehicles about 2.10pm (Friday 28 June 2019).
It's believed a silver Ford Territory travelling south of the M1 Princes Motorway and a Prime Mover (Mack Truck) with a dog trailer attached have collided. As a consequence of that initial crash, four more vehicles – a Mitsubishi Pajero, an Isuzu rigid truck, a Honda Odyssey, and a Toyota Prado – were also impacted.
As a result of the crash, a Mitsubishi Pajero and an Isuzu truck were engulfed in flames.
The driver and passenger of the Mitsubishi Pajero were trapped in the vehicle and died at the scene. The driver of the Isuzu truck, a 47-year-old from Cordeaux Heights, managed to free himself prior to it being alight and was uninjured.
Officers from the Southern Region Crash Investigation Unit (CIU) established a crime scene and commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Five drivers were conveyed to hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing.
The occupants of the Honda Odyssey driven by a 30-year-old man from Auburn, Toyota Prado driven by a 51-year-old woman from Orange, Isuzu truck driven by a 47-year-old man from Cordeaux Heights, and the Prime Mover with dog trailer attached driven by a 42-year-old woman from Albion Park were uninjured.
Following investigations, police arrested a 65-year-old Lansdowne man. He was taken to Wollongong Police Station where he was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death-drive manner dangerous (x2), and negligent driving occasioning death.
He was granted conditional bail to appear at Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday 23 July 2019.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
