A 68-year-old truck driver has died and two other people have been seriously injured after a truck and car collided, sending the truck veering into a house in Launceston’s north.
Key points:
- A 68-year-old truck driver died and a woman and her 18-year-old son were injured in the crash
- Police say the truck crossed to the wrong side of Goderich Street, hitting a car before smashing into a house
- Launceston traffic is still disrupted as investigators examine the scene
The crash happened on Goderich Street, which turns into the East Tamar Highway, at Invermay just before 7:00am this morning.
Acting Inspector Andrew Hanson said the semi-trailer was travelling south before the crash.
“It has crossed the median strip into the north-bound lanes, it’s collided with a small white hatchback, and the truck has then continued on through a fence and has crashed into the back end of a house in Howard street,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the driver of the truck could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The female and male occupants of the white hatchback have been taken to the Launceston General Hospital.
“They were a mother and son. The mother is in a serious condition but is not critical.”
The 18-year-old son is also being treated for his injuries.
House occupants ‘lucky’ to be unhurt
Two occupants of the house and their pets escaped uninjured.
“There’s quite substantial damage to the back,” Inspector Hanson said.
“My understanding is that they have got some help from neighbours.
“They’re with neighbours at the moment and they’re just working through the process of contacting the insurance and trying to fix what’s happened to them.
“Potentially it could have been a lot worse. Perhaps they were lucky that they were still in bed towards the front of the house.”
Accident investigators remain at the scene and are looking into whether a medical episode contributed to the accident.
The south-bound lanes of Goderich Street/East Tamar Highway have been reopened but the north-bound lanes will remain closed for some time.
Drivers are advised to use Vermont Road and Invermay Road.
