Toddler dead as dashcam emerges of horror freeway pile-up

A toddler has been killed and a baby is fighting for life after a horror crash on a major Melbourne freeway.

Horrifying dashcam footage has emerged of the moment a semi-trailer smashed into multiple cars on a major Melbourne freeway, killing a toddler and leaving a young family fighting for life.

The devastating collision happened on the Calder Freeway just after 2.30pm on Monday when a truck carrying grain rolled onto multiple cars near the Bulla Rd overpass.

Police said a rear seat passenger in one car, understood to be a two-year-old toddler, died at the scene.

A toddler was killed and a baby is fighting for life after the horror crash.

Two people from the same vehicle, believed to be the toddler’s mother and younger sibling, were rushed to hospital in a critical condition.

Other people were hurt in the collision while others escaped serious injury.

The tragic pile-up caused traffic chaos, with northbound traffic backed up for 4km, causing huge delays on nearby roads after all city-bound lanes on the freeway closed at Bulla-Diggers Rd.

Multiple vehicles were caught up in the crash

Dozens of emergency crews rushed to the scene

The truck was torn apart, spilling grain over the road

The driver of the semi trailer is currently in custody.

Huge crash on the Calder Freeway in Diggers Rest involving 3 cars, a B-double carrying grain and a boat on a trailer. Expect long delays. No word on the condition of the patients yet but an Air Ambulance has just arrived. @9NewsMelbpic.twitter.com/HNFuIpMF5s

— Gillian Lantouris (@gillianlant) December 6, 2021

Truck on road

Images of the wreckage showed multiple cars strewn across the road and the truck completely turned on its side, with the front of the vehicle severed from its carriage.

A metal road barrier was completely torn apart.

At least five people were injured in total, with child flown by air ambulance to Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Dozens of paramedics, police and fire crew responded to the emergency.

Paramedics take away patients

Air ambulance now leaving the Calder @9NewsMelbpic.twitter.com/yt7sDPDfZz

— Elisabeth Moss (@Elisabeth_Moss9) December 6, 2021

Authorities have urged people to slow down and drive with care.

All citybound lanes of the Calder Freeway are closed at Bulla-Diggers Rest Road, due to a serious collision. Drivers will exit and immediately re-enter the freeway via the exit and entry ramps. Follow the direction of @VictoriaPolice and allow extra time. #victrafficpic.twitter.com/1dm5j8kgV8

— VicTraffic (@VicTraffic) December 6, 2021

Originally published as Toddler dead as dashcam emerges of horror freeway pile-up