Two dead after multicar crash on Sydney Harbour Bridge as police warn of hours of traffic delays

Two people have died and multiple people are injured after a bus and multiple cars collided on Thursday
Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastCaitlin CassidyThu 17 Oct 2024 07.33 BSTFirst published on Thu 17 Oct 2024 05.08 BSTShareTwo people have died after multiple cars and a bus collided on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Sydney police Acting Supt Clayton McDonald said emergency services responded at about 1.40pm to multiple triple zero calls reporting a “serious collision”.
Police arrived on the scene to find four vehicles and a coach had been involved in the crash. One man was already dead when they arrived and a short time later a second man died at the scene, McDonald said. Both were drivers.
Two more people – including a pregnant woman and a 28-year-old male – were transported by ambulance to the Royal North Shore hospital with minor injuries. Both were in a stable condition late on Thursday afternoon.
The other drivers involved in the crash were taken to hospital to be assessed.
The bus driver was uninjured and had no passengers onboard at the time of the crash.
Supt Adam Dewberry from Fire and Rescue NSW said one injured person had to be physically cut out of their car. He said there was “significant wreckage all over the road” from the collision.
“Firefighters arrived on the scene when paramedics were treating a casualty trapped in their vehicle,” Dewberry said. “We used hydraulic tools to cut and pull apart the car.”
NSW Ambulance, Transport for NSW, emergency services and a helicopter also attended the scene.
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While emergency services were treating people, a motorcyclist allegedly rode through the scene. He was arrested and taken to Day Street police station. McDonald said the motorcycle he was riding was unregistered and his licence was suspended.
“Whilst many drivers were waiting patiently … a gentleman who was riding a motorcycle entered the crime scene in an attempt to get past and go cross the bridge,” McDonald said.
“That gentleman drove towards police who stood in front of him and [they] were able to stop that gentleman. He will be charged with a number of serious traffic offences.”
NSW police advised motorists to avoid the area, which was closed until just after 4pm on Thursday and to check Live Traffic for updates.
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The Transport for NSW coordinator general, Howard Collins, said while the bridge had reopened to two lanes of traffic, the most important message for commuters was “avoid the area”.
Queues had extended back to Rozelle, snaking 12km in length, Collins said, warning there would be significant continued traffic congestion.
“I warn every single motorist, it will take several hours to clear the backlog of traffic,” he said. “This will extend into the evening peak and maybe beyond.”
Asked whether there could be a worse place for there to be a crash in Sydney, Collins said the bridge was “obviously critical” for a city with a huge waterway.
“There aren’t many options when it comes to crossing by road,” he said. “If you do not need to travel this afternoon … do not do it.”
<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Traffic on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.<a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/SydneyHarbourBridge?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SydneyHarbourBridge</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sydney?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Sydney</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/vXKpC78I1d\">pic.twitter.com/vXKpC78I1d</a></p>&mdash; Mark Miranda (@MarkAMiranda) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/MarkAMiranda/status/1846749943446249661?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 17, 2024</a></blockquote>"}}”>Traffic on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.#SydneyHarbourBridge #Sydney pic.twitter.com/vXKpC78I1d
— Mark Miranda (@MarkAMiranda) October 17, 2024A crime scene was established and officers were investigating. No charges had been laid over the collision.