Driver charged over fiery multi-truck crash near Goulburn

Thu 16 Jul 2026 at 3:09pm

Thu 16 Jul 2026 at 3:09pm

In short:

New South Wales police have charged a driver over an explosive multi-truck crash at a rest stop on the Hume Highway last month.

Six semi-trailers were destroyed in the incident, which police say began when two trucks collided and caught fire, which then spread to four other trucks.

What's next?

The 28-year-old man has been charged with negligent driving, and is due to appear before the Yass Local Court on August 27.

A truck driver has been charged with negligent driving over a fiery six-vehicle crash at a rest stop on the Hume Highway last month.

The 28-year-old man was driving one of six semi-trailers involved in the explosive crash at Windmills Rest Area in Breadalbane in southern New South Wales on June 30.

Emergency services were called to the scene, about 32 kilometres south-west of Goulburn, at about 5am, where they found multiple trucks alight.

All six trucks were destroyed by the blaze, which NSW Police said began when two trucks collided and caught fire, before spreading to four trucks that were parked in the rest bay.

There were reports of explosions, and a 300-metre exclusion zone was put in place as authorities worked to extinguish the blaze and carry out initial investigations.

One of the trucks was carrying eight tonnes of butane cans, another was transporting resin, a third contained memory foam, and a fourth was transporting alcohol, which Fire and Rescue NSW said fuelled the fiery explosion.

At the time, NSW Police Acting Inspector Vladimir Mijok said it was “nothing short of a miracle” that nobody was killed or seriously injured.

All six truck drivers whose rigs were destroyed were treated by paramedics for minor injuries at the scene.

Two drivers, a 23-year-old and a 28-year-old, were taken to Goulburn Hospital for mandatory testing.

After further inquires, the 28-year-old was served a notice to attend court, and charged with negligent driving.

He is due to appear before Yass Local Court on August 27.