Approximately 4:20pm on Monday 29th of October 2018 police and paramedics were called to attend a two car crash on the Bass Highway at Elizabeth Town. The crash resulted in the Bass Highway being closed at the scene temporarily with delays experienced by commuters for approximately two hours, Tasmania Police say.
Indications are that one vehicle attempted to conduct a U turn across double white lines on a sweeping bend and was struck by another car. Five people were taken to the Launceston General Hospital in four ambulances with non-life threatening injuries.
The scene was also attended to by volunteer members from Meander Valley State Emergency Services, Elizabeth Town Fire Brigade and Deloraine Fire Brigade.
Disappointingly a motorist stopped in the queue of traffic also attempted to perform a U turn across the double white lines and collided with a fire truck responding to the collision causing minor damage.
These collisions follow a single vehicle crash on the Bass Highway at Deloraine in the early hours of Sunday morning (28/10/2018) where a vehicle drifted to the incorrect side of the road and struck an Armco barrier resulting in the vehicle rolling over. The single occupant driver luckily escaped serious injury. Alcohol and fatigue were factors in this crash with the driver being charged with low level drink driving.
Police would like to thank the majority of commuters for their patience at today’s crash.
Crossing centre dividing lines can have serious consequences; police would like to remind all drivers to remain attentive and obey all signs and lines whilst driving, especially on long commutes along our major highways. Don’t drink and drive or use a phone, belt up, take regular breaks and aim to arrive alive!
Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers.
