An Indian-origin truck driver has tragically died after his vehicle reportedly crashed into two parked trucks and caught fire on the Hume Freeway at Wangaratta South early on Wednesday morning.
The driver identified on a Punjabi community social media page as 39-year-old Baljinder Singh from Reelan village in Hoshiarpur district, died at the scene. It is reported that Singh, who leaves behind two young children, was the sole occupant of the truck.
Victoria Police, who did not identify the victime, said in a statement that the B-double truck lost control before ploughing into the stationary vehicles at the southbound Glenrowan rest stop just before 5am.
As per Victoria Police, two other drivers were asleep in their vehicles at the time. One, aged in his 50s, sustained minor facial injuries and was taken to hospital in Wangaratta. The other escaped unharmed.
Detective Inspector Craig McEvoy from the Major Collision Investigation Unit confirmed a multi-agency investigation is underway. “Any road fatality is a tragedy,” he told ABC News. “Fortunately, the two other drivers have escaped without significant injury.”
Police are urging anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage, or information about the crash, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online.
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