Police say they are investigating the possibility a driver fell asleep at the wheel on the Kamilaroi Highway near Boggabri on Tuesday afternoon, which resulted in a serious collision and fire.
The B-double and Ford Ranger utility collided 30 kilometres south of Narrabri, resulting in the highway being closed for several hours and a diversion put in place.
Narrabri Police have told The Courier they are investigating the possibility that the driver of a ute fell asleep at the wheel.
Blood has been taken from both drivers as part of the routine investigation.
Police said they still need to speak to both drivers to give their accounts of what happened.
Namoi/Gwydir Rural Fire Service inspector, Angela Daly, said eight volunteer firefighters responded to the incident, helping to put out the fire from the B-double.
“Crews arrived on scene to find the B-double on fire, the truck was carrying sorghum, and our crews got to work to contain the fire and make the scene safe,” inspector Daly said.
“We had four fire trucks on scene and worked with NSW Ambulance and NSW Police.
“We were also asissted by a private bulk water carrier to supply water.”
Inspector Daly said the response lasted just over four hours.
A witness to the incident, Clive Redfern, has told The Courier he was driving towards Boggabri when the incident occurred in front of him.
He said the B-double immediately caught fire on impact.
“I stopped and ran over and the driver of the ute stood up and said he was okay, so then I ran to the truck and his feet were through the passenger window because it had tipped on its side,” Mr Redfern said.
“I had to kick the widscreen in to get him out.
“By then there were two other drivers there with me and the driver of the ute was there with an extinguisher.
“A lady beside me had already called the police.”
He said that after the driver got out one of the fuel tanks exploded.
Investigations are continuing.