Police reveal how close Yamba crash was to catastrophe

Incredible escape for Yamba woman in early-morning collision on Oyster Channel bridge.

Police have revealed the details of a freak accident that stopped traffic in Yamba for more than an hour on Tuesday morning.

Grafton police station officer-in-charge Chief Inspector Jo Reid said that the collision occurred around 8am between a Clarence Valley Council truck and trailer travelling east on Oyster Channel bridge and a Nissan X-Trail.

“The truck crossed the Oyster Channel bridge, when the drawbar on the trailer has had a catastrophic failure, with both sides of the metal A-frame snapping … leaving only the towball hitch and chain attached to the truck,” Chief Insp Reid said.

“The trailer, which was carrying a 900kg generator has crossed onto the oncoming lane and collided heavy with the Nissan X-Trail.”

Both the car and the trailer were extensively damaged with the trailer flipped over.

Amazingly, the driver of the X-Trail a Yamba woman in her late 60s was taken to Maclean Hospital where it is believed she suffered a fractured hand and general bruising. It is believed the driver of the truck was unhurt.

Chief Inspector Reid said it was a lucky outcome for the drivers given the weight of the generator that crossed into the path of the X-Trail.

“The load was within the weight limits of the trailer, and it appears to be a freak accident … but investigations into the circumstances are continuing.”