Semi-trailer driver in hospital after Tablelands truck rollover

Passing motorists have come to the rescue of a truck driver trapped in wreckage, after a semi-trailer rolled at a notorious Kennedy Highway corner on the Atherton Tablelands.

A truck has rolled on the Kennedy Highway near the turn-off to Herberton. Picture: Nicki Rae

The driver of a semi-trailer has been rushed to hospital after crashing his truck on a notorious corner of an Atherton Tablelands highway.

At about 6.29pm on Monday emergency services were called to a semi-trailer that came unstuck at the corner of the Kennedy Highway, near the Longlands Gap Rd turn off, at Wondecla.

It’s understood the prime mover and trailer failed to negotiate a sharp bend and the vehicle rolled over and came to rest on its side.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Queensland Ambulance Service and police were called to the crash but before they arrived, passing motorists came the assistance of the driver who was trapped in the cabin.

Members of the public broke the windscreen to free the 72-year-old driver from the truck.

By 7.50pm one lane of the road reopened and traffic control was in place however a lengthy clean up of the scene involved a crane needed to remove the semi-trailer from the area.

Diesel from the truck also spilt onto the roadway.

An ambulance spokesman said paramedics took the driver to Atherton Hospital in a stable condition suffering back and neck pain.

The driver was from the New South Wales town of Bulahdelah, police stated.

Police investigations into the crash are ongoing.

The crash follows a fatal incident in Julatten on Sunday and another at Walkamin last week that involved seven patients, including three older people that were flown to Cairns Hospital via the rescue helicopter.

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Originally published as Semi-trailer driver in hospital after Tablelands truck rollover