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Man in 50s dead after being hit by car at Chinderah in Tweed on Wednesday, motorway closed

Motorists heading north should expect lengthy delays after a man was fatally struck by a truck on the Pacific Motorway in the Tweed today. Here’s the latest.

Pictures of Highway after a pedestrian was hit by car at Chinderah on 24 May 2023
Pictures of Highway after a pedestrian was hit by car at Chinderah on 24 May 2023

A man believed to be aged in his 50s has died on the way to hospital after he was hit by a truck on the Pacific Motorway in the Tweed.

Tweed/Byron Police District has been forced to close the northbound lanes, causing traffic chaos.

Trucks pulled up due to the closure of northbound lanes. Picture: Savannah Pocock
Trucks pulled up due to the closure of northbound lanes. Picture: Savannah Pocock

A diversion to head north is in place via Tumbulgum, but it is not suitable for heavy-vehicles.

Trucks have pulled off the road and into nearby service stations – and could be in for a long wait.

Emergency services were called to the motorway at Chinderah about 11.30am.

The man could not be saved, despite the efforts of NSW Ambulance paramedics.

He is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be aged in his 50s.

Trucks on the motorway after the incident. Picture: Savannah Pocock
Trucks on the motorway after the incident. Picture: Savannah Pocock

The man driving the truck stopped to help.

He has since been taken to Tweed Heads Hospital for mandatory drug and alcohol testing.

Police have launched investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Truck driver Scott Hardy was pulled up and facing a long wait to get back on the road.

“I’m transporting Coke to the Gold Coast and trying to take beer back to Sydney,” he said.

Truck driver Scott Hardy said he expected a long wait. Picture: Savannah Pocock
Truck driver Scott Hardy said he expected a long wait. Picture: Savannah Pocock

Mr Hardy said he would wcontinue to “talk and smoke and talk” until the road was cleared.

The truckie, who took it as an opportunity to grab some lunch, said he was often caught up in road closures.

“When you’re in a B-double, you always get stuck,” Mr Hardy said.

“I started at 6am. I’m not going to get to where I need to be by tonight at 11pm.”

Mr Hardy said incidents like the tragedy on the motorway caused a “snowball affect”.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage has been urged to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Man in 50s dead after being hit by car at Chinderah in Tweed on Wednesday, motorway closed

Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/nsw/tweed-heads/pedestrian-left-in-serious-condition-after-being-hit-by-car-at-chinderah-in-tweed-on-wednesday/news-story/1984efd81657e087cef8aa017ff2efe5