The truck driver killed in a fiery Hume Highway crash last week was en route from Melbourne to Sydney, police say.
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Emergency services were called to the scene of the crash, about 5 kilometres east of Gunning at 4.40pm on Tuesday, April 23.
Police were told a northbound prime mover crashed into a B-double, which was broken down in lane one, and the cabin and engine of the prime mover engulfed in flames on impact.
The driver of the prime mover died on scene, while the driver of the broken-down truck was taken to hospital with minor injuries, on-scene paramedics said.
The dead driver has been identified and his family informed, but a name not released, Acting Inspector David Cowell of Yass Police Station said.
A Gunning Motors employee, Chevon Greene, said she spoke to someone who had been sent to a service station to get fuel for the broken down truck. The crash happened not long afterwards.
Both trucks were alight when firefighters arrived on scene, Superintendent Peter Alley said.
Firefighters have not established a cause for the blaze, however, Superintendent Alley said he could only assume that the fuel tanks ruptured and there were sparks as a result of the impact.
The northbound lane was closed throughout the night, forcing up to 20 trucks unable to turn around in the northbound land to park on the highway overnight.
Truck drivers were seen supporting one another in the aftermath of the crash, talking through the incident and sharing food and water.
Gunning Motors remained open later than usual to assist traffic diverted through the village
The crash is under investigation and police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
