Two dead, more injured in horror crash on Sydney Harbour Bridge
Two men are dead and several other people injured after four cars and a bus collided on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, leaving traffic in chaos, emergency services scrambling and by mid-afternoon, the iconic landmark eerily empty.
NSW
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Two people have died and several others have been injured in a horror smash on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Just after 1.30pm, emergency crews were called to the bridge after four cars and a bus collided in the southbound lanes.
Two men died at the scene. Another was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Two more patients are being treated on scene.
The bus driver is uninjured. No passengers were on board at the time.
The two dead men have not been formally identified.
A spokesman for NSW Ambulance said 11 crews responded to the call out, including a rescue helicopter.
Horror vision from the scene shows two hatchbacks mangled beside a Lexus 4WD.
ARREST
Amid the chaos, a motorbike rider was dramatically arrested at the scene of the Harbour Bridge crash, with almost six police pouncing on him.
The man crashed his bike after attempting to speed through the crash scene.
The man was charged and put into a police paddy wagon, and his motorbike was removed from the scene.
He was taken to Day Street Police Station where he is assisting with inquiries
TRAFFIC CHAOS
Traffic delays stretched back as far as the ANZAC Bridge and along the Western Distributor, with just one northbound lane on the bridge open.
On the northern side, cars are banked up for several kilometres while the bridge remains closed southbound.
NSW Police warned motorists to avoid the bridge for several hours., and check Live Traffic for updates.
At 3pm the bridge remained completely closed, but at 3.10pm, police were allowing northbound traffic to pass the crash site, on the westernmost lane of the bridge, after removing a body from a vehicle.
Earlier, on the northern side of the bridge, Highway Patrol police had stopped all traffic coming from the north at North Sydney.
Pedestrians, including tourists, were still able to use the pedestrian footpath on the eastern side of the bridge.
That walk brought them within 15m of the terrible crash site.
A few ware stopping to take photographs or make videos. Most walked on after just taking a glance.
Most of the foot traffic is coming from the southern side of the bridge. and the path is expected to become busier later this afternoon as CBD workers are heading home to the north side of the Harbour.
Car wreckage from the crash remained scattered around the south side of the landmark.
Doors, seats and other objects have been cut away by the jaws of life, oil is spilt and glass is shattered across the crash scene.
A light blue hatchback is covered by a police rescue tent, near a white Hyundai hatchback which appears to have had a collision with the blue hatchback.
The front of that car is compressed, airbags have been deployed and its windscreen and windows are shattered windscreen and windows.
Behind, a Lexus SUV appears to have rear ended the hatchback.
A silver Mercedes Benz has smashed into the side railing of the bridges footpath roughly 50 meters away from the other vehicles.
Fernando Fortunato was walking with his mum across the bridge when he saw the wreck take place.
“The silver car (Mercedes) was spinning,” Mr Fortunato said.
“It was loud and very scary.
“One lady got out of her car to try and help, but was told to stay in the car.”
Originally published as Two dead, more injured in horror crash on Sydney Harbour Bridge
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