The midday rush on a busy NSW road turned into chaos on Wednesday when a semi-trailer collided with six cars on Picton Road at Cataract, injuring at least 13 people and prompting a major emergency response from police, paramedics and fire crews.
The crash occurred just before noon on January 7, 2026, near the Mount Keira Road intersection, north of Wollongong in southern New South Wales. Paramedics, including a medical helicopter team, treated 13 people at the scene after the truck jack-knifed and struck multiple vehicles during the collision on the busy arterial road linking Wollongong with Sydney.
Among those injured was a man in his 30s who sustained pelvic, chest and arm injuries and was airlifted to Liverpool Hospital in a serious condition. Three others were taken by ambulance to Wollongong Hospital in stable condition, while additional patients were assessed at the scene.
Fire and Rescue NSW crews freed the truck driver from his vehicle; he was uninjured and taken to hospital for mandatory testing. Specialist fire units also worked to contain a small fuel spill from the truck’s diesel tank, which authorities said did not pose a major hazard to other vehicles.
Transport NSW advised that Picton Road was closed in both directions for several hours as emergency services worked to clear the scene, with motorists urged to use alternate routes and expect delays. Police have appealed for witnesses or dashcam footage to assist their investigation into the cause of the crash.
The incident has underscored ongoing concerns about road safety on busy regional routes during the holiday period, as authorities remind drivers to stay alert, reduce speed where directed, and plan journeys carefully.
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Sources ABC News Australia — Truck crashes into six cars on Picton Road at Cataract, north of Wollongong Yahoo News Australia — Multi-car pileup as semi crashes, 13 injured Region Illawarra / local reports — road closure and victim transport details
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