Driver killed as two trucks collide in T-bone crash on Port Wakefield Hwy

A truck driver has died after a horrific T-bone crash in thick morning fog on Port Wakefield Hwy. The major crash is affecting the Easter long weekend traffic.

A truck driver with “decades” of experience in the industry has died after crashing into another truck on a major highway north of Adelaide on Thursday morning.

About 6.50am, police and emergency services were called to Port Wakefield Highway near Prime Road at Inkerman, after two trucks crashed.

Two truck burst into flames after colliding in a T-bone crash this morning on the Port Wakefield Hwy. Picture: Dean Martin

Police said both trucks burst into flames upon impact, taking firefighters several hours to extinguish the blaze.

The driver of one truck, a 77-year-old Port Augusta man, sadly died at the scene.

The second driver and his passenger, a 57-year-old man from Marleston and a 39-year-old man from Elizabeth Downs, sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.

Hazmat crews are on the scene with a 30-40m exclusion zone set up.

The Advertiser understands one of the trucks was carrying hazardous material.

SAPOL have said the area will be closed for several more hours.

Port Wakefield Highway blocked as two trucks collide. Picture: Dean Martin

The company of the deceased driver, Augusta Scrap Metals, released a statement paying tribute to the man, and said they were mourning the loss of their colleague.

“This is a devastating time for all of us as we mourn the shock loss of a friend, family man, and experienced driver who has been in the SA transport industry for decades,” they said.

“Police are investigating the cause of the accident. It is understood there was heavy fog at the scene leading up to the crash.”

Port Wakefield Highway blocked as two trucks collide at Inkerman between Wild Horse Plain and Port Wakefield. Picture: Dean Martin

Augusta Scrap Metals said they are a small, family-owned business, and that they had always prioritised safety and compliance.

Truck driver Wayne Meyers, who was at the scene, told ABC morning radio he expected the clean up to take “hours and hours”.

“There is a lot of smoke coming off the accident site,“ he said.

“There was intense fog this morning when I came through about half an hour prior to this accident occurring and the fog was that thick you wouldn’t be able to see 20 metres in front of you.

“It looks horrible – it’s a horrible, horrible scene … (as a truck driver) it’s our worst nightmare.”

A truck driver has died following the crash. Picture: Dean Martin

Meanwhile, Port Wakefield Highway remains closed, with Major Crash Investigators still on scene.

Traffic on southbound lanes remain blocked, oversized vehicles will need to hold at Port Wakefield or Dublin.

An alternative for southbound traffic from Port Wakefield is via Balaklava, then Mallala and out onto Port Wakefield Highway.

Northbound lanes remain open with speed restrictions in place.

Police said these restrictions are expected to remain in place for some time.

Originally published as Driver killed as two trucks collide in T-bone crash on Port Wakefield Hwy