Hume Motorway Multi-Vehicle Crash Kills Two, Five Injured, Lanes Closed, Police Investigate Wreckage

Sydney, Australia— Two people were killed and five injured in a multi-vehicle crash on the Hume Motorway at around 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, after a semi-trailer jackknifed and triggered a chain collision that shut the southbound carriageway for six hours.

The crash occurred near Menangle Park, about 85 kilometers southwest of Sydney CBD. According to NSW Police, the semi was traveling south in the left lane when it lost traction in wet conditions. The trailer swung across both lanes. Three cars behind it braked hard. Two more vehicles, including a ute towing a trailer, slammed into the wreckage at speed.

Fire and Rescue NSW crews found one car crushed under the trailer's rear axle. Two occupants were declared dead at the scene. The other five injured, including the truck driver, were trapped for up to 40 minutes while crews used hydraulic cutters to free them. All were flown or driven to Liverpool and Campbelltown hospitals.

Witnesses described a wall of spray, then brake lights, then impact. "It happened so fast," said a driver who stopped 50 meters behind the crash. "The truck started sliding, smoke came up, then cars just piled into it. You could not see anything for a moment."

The Hume Motorway is the main freight corridor between Sydney and Melbourne. Tuesday's closure caused a 12-kilometer tailback. Transport for NSW diverted traffic onto the old Hume Highway through Camden. Motorists were warned to expect delays until late evening. The northbound lanes remained open but slowed as drivers rubbernecked.

NSW Police Crash Investigation Unit is leading the inquiry. Officers seized dashcam footage from four vehicles and the truck's electronic logbook. Early checks show the truck was within its speed limit but may have been lightly loaded, making it more prone to jackknifing on slick pavement. Rain had been falling intermittently since midday.

The truck driver, a 47-year-old man from Victoria, suffered chest injuries and is under police guard in hospital. He has not been charged. Police said a mandatory drug and alcohol test was conducted and returned negative. The deceased have not been formally identified. Their families are being notified.

This stretch of the Hume has seen three fatal crashes this year. The NRMA has repeatedly called for improved drainage and resurfacing on the Menangle section. A Transport for NSW spokesperson said a safety review of the corridor was completed in August and upgrades are scheduled for early next year.

The southbound lanes reopened at 9:30 p.m. The wreckage has been towed to a holding yard for mechanical inspection. Investigators will return Wednesday to map the scene with drones.