Miracle escape for four young women after crash closes Federal Highway

Four young women miraculously escaped unscathed after a major crash involving their silver Mini and a truck carrying steel at the Macs Reef Road junction with the Federal Highway around 11am on Tuesday.

The impact ripped away the rear axle of the truck and tripped it onto its side, ending it sliding down the highway for about 50 metres. Picture by Peter Brewer

The truck driver also escaped without serious injury after the rear axle of his heavy vehicle appears to have rolled over the bonnet of the tiny Mini.

However, his truck then flipped onto its side and slid 50 metres down the roadway, completely blocking the dual lane carriageway.

Significant debris was scattered down the highway and oil was spilled at the intersection, with local RFS crews called to mop up.

The truck driver was taken to hospital for observation. The women in the car were badly shaken but unharmed. Their vehicle appeared to be a total write-off.

The front end of the Mini was crushed and ripped by the force of the impact but all four occupants escaped unharmed. Picture by Peter Brewer

Truck drivers at the scene said it was a miracle that no-one was killed.

The crash closed the Federal Highway southbound at the intersection, with police diverting traffic back via Bungendore Road to Canberra.

Initial investigations indicate the Mini driver was northbound on the Federal Highway and turning right from the slip-lane into Mac Reef Roadd when the crash occurred.

A heavy duty towtruck was called in to pull the other truck upright. Picture by Peter Brewer

The southbound truck driver appears to have attempted to evade the turning car and almost succeeded, until the rear axle of the truck rolled over the Mini's bonnet and was ripped away by the force of the impact and tipped the truck on its side.

Motorists heading to Canberra are being asked to use the Hume Highway and Barton Highway instead. People travelling from Goulburn can use Braidwood Road then Bungendore Road or the Kings Highway.

Authorities are asking people to allow plenty of extra travel time and follow the directions of emergency services and traffic crews on scene.

Southbound lanes of the Federal Highway at the Macs Reef Road intersection. Picture Google Maps

A clean-up is underway on site, however the truck will need to carefully uprighted and towed, as its rear axle was completely ripped off. Police at the scene said they hoped to reopen the highway around 1.30pm. Northbound traffic was not affected.

The Sutton crash comes just two days after three young people were killed in a single vehicle crash near Tarago, when a car rolled off the road.