A Major hazardous materials response was required following a fatal crash on Wednesday. Photo: Fire and Rescue NSW.
A large chemical spill following a fatal truck crash on the Sturt Highway has been contained and rendered safe by Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW), nearly 30 hours after the incident occurred.
Emergency services were called to reports of a collision between two trucks in Euston around 5:30 pm on Wednesday (9 April). One of the drivers self-evacuated, while the other died at the scene.
The impact caused a significant spill of hazardous chemicals across the roadway.
Upon arrival, FRNSW firefighters established an exclusion zone and constructed a bund to contain the spillage. Crews wearing chemical protective clothing entered the hazard zone to identify the chemicals and assess the scale of the spill.
FRNSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said incidents involving hazardous materials are highly complex.
“Unfortunately, this incident was fatal, involving a large hazardous material spill and the recovery of two heavy vehicles in a remote location,” Supt Dewberry said.
“The recovery efforts are a credit to all attending emergency services, which worked efficiently and collaboratively throughout.”
FRNSW developed a hazardous material recovery plan in consultation with the NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with support from the Rural Fire Service (RFS), NSW Ambulance, NSW Police, Victoria’s Country Fire Authority (CFA), and the EPA.
The site was declared safe from hazardous chemicals shortly after 10 pm on Thursday (10 April).
Transport for NSW then took over, managing the salvage and recovery of the vehicles.
