UPDATE: A man has tragically died after his vehicle crashed into a tree and caught fire on the Hume Highway, north of Gundagai, just before 2 PM on October 19, 2023. Emergency services rushed to the scene at the intersection of the highway and Westend Lane in Berremangra, where the grisly incident unfolded.
According to officials from NSW Police, a grey Toyota sedan veered off an embankment, colliding with a tree before bursting into flames. The driver, a man in his 30s and the sole occupant of the vehicle, was assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics but was pronounced dead at the scene.
The NSW Rural Fire Service responded quickly to extinguish the fire, but the vehicle was completely destroyed. Authorities have established a crime scene and are conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
As of 7 PM on Sunday, the Hume Highway northbound remains closed between Coolac and Bowning. Police have implemented diversions via Muttama Road to Cootamundra, then the Olympic Highway to Wallendbeen, and the Burley Griffin Way to rejoin the Hume Highway at Bowning. This route accommodates all vehicles up to 26-metre B-doubles.
Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time while navigating the area and to follow directions from emergency services and traffic crews as the investigation continues.
This devastating incident highlights the urgent need for road safety measures, especially on busy highways like the Hume. Stay tuned for further updates as authorities work diligently to uncover the details surrounding this tragic event.
