Man in 50s dead after truck and car collide in Cowper area, near Grafton in northern NSW on Tuesday morning

A semi-trailer and a car have crashed on the North Coast, claiming the life of a man in his 50s. It’s the second fatal truck smash in the area in less than a week. Here’s what we know.

The semi-trailer and car crashed in the Cowper area, near Grafton, on Tuesday morning. Picture: Google Maps

A semi-trailer and a car have crashed in the north of the state, claiming the life of a man in his 50s.

It’s the second fatal truck and car smash in the area in less than a week.

Emergency services were called to Big River Way and Lower Coldstream Rd in the Cowper area, near Grafton, just after 7am on Tuesday.

NSW Ambulance paramedics attended to the driver of the truck, a 25-year-old man.

He was first described by authorities as suffering from minor injuries, but police believe was not physically injured.

The truck driver was taken to Grafton Base Hospital for treatment and routine drug and alcohol testing.

The driver of the car, the older man, suffered significant injuries and died following the smash, NSW Police have confirmed.

Officers have been working to contact the man’s next of kin.

Earlier, Live Traffic NSW and Fire and Rescue NSW Station 306 Grafton warned Big River Way has been closed in both direction around the crash site.

“Avoid the area and use the Pacific Highway at Glenugie and Big River Way at Grafton instead,” Live Traffic states online.

It’s expected road closures will be ongoing for some time as police continue to investigate.

Other traffic diversions are in place and motorists have been urged to take alternate routes to avoid the area.

Tuesday’s fatal collision follows another horror car and truck crash in the area last Wednesday.

That tragedy claimed the life of a 65-year-old woman and left a 13-year-old boy fighting for his life.

Know more? Phone Policelink on 131 444.