A serious crash has closed the Bruce Highway south of Ingham
Two people have been badly injured, one seriously, after a nasty accident involving at least two trucks and a ute on the Bruce Highway near Townsville.
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Two people have been badly injured, one seriously, after a nasty accident involving at least two trucks and a ute on the Bruce Highway near Townsville.
A person with knowledge of the accident at Yaruga 20 kilometres south of Ingham said all three vehicles were travelling south when the shock accident occurred at midday Monday.
The person said a semi-trailer had braked and was allegedly hit from behind by a second truck carrying black soil.
A Ford utility vehicle was believed to have been caught in the middle.
Queensland Ambulance Service said the driver of the second truck, a man, had been seriously injured and was badly entrapped in his vehicle.
He was eventually freed by Queensland Fire Service officers after about 90 minutes and airlifted to Townsville University Hospital in a stable condition.
The Ford suffered extensive damage but the male driver was lucky not to sustain more severe injuries.
He was transported by QAS by road to Ingham, also in a stable condition.
The accident has completely blocked the Bruce Highway, with traffic backed up four kilometres to both the north and south.
The highway could be opened to one lane but a detailed inspection by the Townsville Forensic Crash Unit will have to occur.
The Bruce Highway remained totally closed until 5.30pm when one lane was opened for about one hour.
The road has again just been closed to allow for the removal of the trucks and to clear debris from the road.
Queensland Police Service said at 6.30pm that it could not provide an estimate of when this would occur.
EARLIER>>>
Emergency services crews are responding to a serious crash which has closed the highway north of Townsville.
It is understood the crash, which happened on the Bruce Highway at Yuruga, south of Ingham, involved a truck and a ute.
The driver of the truck was understood to have been trapped in the vehicle in a serious condition, but has since been extricated.
The driver of the ute has been reported as suffering shoulder and chest injuries.
A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said no patients had yet been transported to hospital.
#Yuruga - Paramedics are responding to reports of a multi-vehicle crash on the Bruce Highway at 11.59am. It has been reported that one patient may be trapped. Avoid the area if possible pic.twitter.com/45jxJ6EbH2
— Queensland Ambulance (@QldAmbulance) September 5, 2022
Queensland Ambulance as well as Queensland Fire and Emergency Service and police are on the scene.
The rescue helicopter has also been tasked.
The highway had been closed in both directions.
It is estimated that one lane may be reopened by 2pm to 4pm.
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Originally published as A serious crash has closed the Bruce Highway south of Ingham
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