A Melbourne driver miraculously escaped unharmed after their car was crushed against a tunnel barrier by a fuel tanker.
Extraordinary CCTV footage, aired by 9News, from inside the Burnley Tunnel shows the tanker appearing unaware of a Mitsubishi Pajero in its path as it indicated and moved into the left outbound lane around 9.15pm.
Sparks and debris flew as the Pajero was squashed between the truck and the tunnel wall. Both vehicles came to a grinding halt after the tanker slammed on the brakes.
Emergency services arrived within minutes, and traffic was brought to a standstill while heavy machinery separated and removed the vehicles.
Toll road operator Transurban confirmed to 9News that its crews were on scene within four minutes, highlighting its round-the-clock tunnel monitoring.
While crash rates in tunnels are relatively low, Transurban warned drivers often respond differently in enclosed environments. “That’s why we’re encouraging motorists to avoid unnecessary lane changes in tunnels and high-speed areas,” a spokesperson said. “It’s a simple behaviour that can make a real difference in preventing serious incidents.”
It is reported that the truck driver has been issued a penalty infringement notice for performing an unsafe lane change.
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