NSW Police have warned drivers about truck heights after a truck became stuck in the airport tunnel on Tuesday. At 9:30am a low loader style truck carrying an excavator collided with fire sprinklers on the roof of the tunnel.
The driver continued for another 100 metres before he realised and stopped the truck
The accident caused extensive damage to the roof, with scrape markings running 100 metres along the tunnel and several steel beams and sprinkler fittings torn from the ceiling.
The damage activated the sprinklers which lead to water pouring onto the road.
The driver of the truck - a 46-year-old Sutherland man- was issued with a penalty notice for disobeying a low clearance sign.
That carries a $2,196 penalty as well as the loss of six demerit points.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner John Hartley said that drivers should be aware of load heights.
‘‘The airport tunnel incident created a response from police, the Road and Maritime Service (RMS), and Fire and Rescue NSW, all of which created significant delays for road users while the truck and its load were removed and repairs made to the tunnel emergency sprinkler system,’’ he said.‘‘The Police and the RMS are there to ensure that over height, over mass, and wide-loads are conducted safely for the benefit of all road users.
Roads and Maritime Services Director of Safety and Compliance Peter Wells said that rogue truck drivers who cause significant delays to other motorists or who damage infrastructure will not be tolerated.
‘‘Along with the fine and loss of demerit points, the driver involved in today’s incident is also facing the possibility of licence and registration suspension for up to three months and a bill to recoup the costs to repair the tunnel,’’ he said.
‘‘The incident was an example of how one driver who fails to do the right thing can cause lengthy delays for hundreds of thousands of motorists.’’
