Truck company raided and driver charged following investigations into triple fatality

Police and NSW road safety authorities have launched an unprecedented operation on a trucking company following investigations into a fatal crash which claimed three lives on the Hume Highway at Menangle last month. Traffic and Highway Patrol Command officers and Roads and Maritime Services investigators have formed Operation Marshall and are conducting a compliance inspection on the transport company’s fleet of trucks at their head office in Enfield and at Roads and Maritime Service checking stations across New South Wales.

On Tuesday night, Crash Investigation Unit police charged a 33-year-old truck driver with three counts of dangerous driving occasioning death. The man from Picnic Point in Sydney was located by investigators in Tamworth. He is due to appear in Campbelltown Local Court on 16 May. His licence has been suspended and police could lay further charges following the outcome of toxicology tests.

Investigators are currently inspecting eight trucks at the company’s headquarters.

Investigations continue at heavy vehicle inspection stations on the Hume Highway at Marulan, the F3 at Mount White and on the Olympic Highway at Wagga Wagga where trucks from the company involved are undergoing compliance inspections.

Two trucks have been stopped at Marulan and one on the Hume Highway at Albury. This phase of the operation will continue to track down the other 24 company trucks still on the state’s roads.

Police in Queensland, South Australia and Victoria have been alerted to intercept all trucks within the fleet to check for safety breaches. The trucks will be stopped and checked for safety breaches while the drivers will be subjected to roadside drug and alcohol testing. Police will also conduct drug dog operations at several of the inspection stations to check the trucks for illegal substances.

Assistant Commissioner John Hartley, Commander of the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command, said the unprecedented operation was a significant warning to the trucking industry.

“We are determined to send a clear message to truck operators flouting safety regulations across the state - you will face serious criminal charges,” he said.

“Transport companies must follow safe work practices; they have a responsibility to the motorists of New South Wales.

“This investigation has only been made possible through the close work between officers from the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command and investigators from Roads and Maritime Services.”