Three trucks smash into each other at Gerang Gerung, section of Western Highway closed

A section of a major highway could be shut for hours and a man has life-threatening injuries after three trucks smashed into each other.

A 20-year-old man has been rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a three-truck smash on the Western Highway near the South Australian border on Friday morning.

One of the trucks rolled off the road and into a paddock at Gerang Gerung about 1am, with the major traffic incident causing the section of highway to be shut.

It’s understood it may not reopen until about 5pm as police and emergency crews investigate.

The driver of the truck, a 20-year-old Dandenong North man, was flown to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

A second driver, a 64-year-old Wangaratta man, was transported by road to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and a third driver – a 61-year-old Bayswater man – was taken to hospital for observations.

The section of the Western Highway at Gerang Gerung is closed in both directions between Dimboola and Nhill, with 75km-long detours in place.

The Western Highway is closed both ways between Dimboola and Nhill due to a serious collision. Adelaide-bound motorists to detour from Dimboola to Jeparit, and then to Nhill. Melbourne-bound vehicles should detour from Nhill to Jeparit, and then to Dimboola. #victrafficpic.twitter.com/bO8QvRukxv

— VicTraffic (@VicTraffic) April 15, 2021

It’s the main route linking travellers with Adelaide or Melbourne.

The Department of Transport urged Adelaide-bound motorists to follow detours from Dimboola to Jeparit, and then on to Nhill.

While Melbourne bound vehicles were asked to detour from Nhill to Jeparit and then through to Dimboola.

“All motorists are urged to allow extra time for their journeys,” The Department of Transport said in a statement.

“The closure is under the control of emergency services. The Western Highway will open as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Police are investigating the cause of the smash.

Real-time traffic conditions are available at traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au or via the VicTraffic mobile app.

Anyone with information should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Originally published as Three trucks smash into each other at Gerang Gerung, section of Western Highway closed