Fiery Pacific Motorway inferno as two trucks collide south of Grafton

Watch the dramatic footage as emergency services rushed to extinguish massive blaze blocking northbound lane of Pacific Highway overnight.

The quick thinking of a truck driver may have helped save two lives on the Pacific Motorway following a collision that between two truck which caused a fiery inferno late Tuesday night.

Emergency services were called to the northbound lanes of the motorway around 10.30pm to reports that two trucks were on fire following a rear-end collision.

Police say they believe that one truck was pulling out of a rest area and coming up to speed, when he was struck by another truck travelling on the motorway.

It is believed the force of the collision split the fuel tanks of both trucks and they became engulfed with flames.

PICTURES: Take a look at dramatic gallery of images our photographer captured last night:

Grafton Pacific Motorway fiery collision between two trucks

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Both the drivers of the trucks were able to leave their cabins, with the uninjured driver of the front truck able to disconnect his prime-mover before his trailer loaded with rubber matting was destroyed by the blaze.

The second driver was able to also get out of his cabin, but was unable to save his entire truck carrying steel, which was engulfed by the flames. he was later taken to Grafton Base Hospital for observation with lacerations to his head.

307 South Grafton Fire Rescue NSW captain Paul Danvers said that the trailers were fully alight when they arrived, and were quickly extinguished by foam. Firefighters used breathing apparatus to approach and extinguish the second truck.

Mr Danvers said it was a good response with a truck from Coffs Harbour and two trucks from Grafton Fire Rescue NSW as well as five RFS trucks that assisted firefighting efforts as well as providing water.

“The smoke was very dangerous … but luckily it was going straight up when we arrived … it was lucky there was no wind to blow it over the other lanes,” Mr Danvers said.

“The southbound lane of the highway was blocked due to the intensity of the fire.”

Extensive clean-up of the highway and truck retrieval was required following the incident with police stating the northbound lane may not be open until 6am Wednesday morning or later.

The crash occurred just a few kilometres from another fire last month in the southbound lane of the motorway.

On that occasion, the truck caught alight following what is believed to be overheating brakes, destroying the entire truck.