TREE IMPACT: Ambulance paramedics and RFS firefighters stretcher the man involved in Monday’s accident from his smashed-up Hilux to a waiting ambulance.
DOG RESCUE: Police and Rural Fire Service firefighters care for the dog injured in Monday’s accident.
A BERMAGUI man was airlifted to Canberra after his Hilux towing a heavily loaded trailer crashed into a tree south of Bodalla on Monday.
This was the one of three accidents on the Princes Highway at Narooma
in the past week, and all three involved trailers.
Monday’s accident occurred about three kilometres south of Bodalla near the turn-off to C Ridge Road.
A 66-year-old man from Bermagui was driving an older-style Toyota Hilux when at around 12.50pm it appears he failed to follow a left-hand bend in the road and continued in a straight line.
The vehicle came off the road, became airborne and collided with a large spotted gum tree.
Police, ambulance and Rural Fire Service officers promptly attended the accident.
The man was not trapped in the vehicle but was in a serious condition and was taken to Moruya District Hospital.
He was later flown to Canberra by the Snowy Hydro Southcare rescue helicopter for additional treatment.
A small dog had been travelling with the man and he appeared to have a limp and was a bit shaken up by the crash.
A police officer took the dog with her with the intention of getting him to a vet for treatment and later to a relative of the victim.
Traffic was not blocked by the accident other than when the vehicle was towed from the scene.
Police are continuing investigations in to the accident.
Meanwhile, earlier that morning, a large NSW Water Police boat being towed south along the Princes Highway was struck by a truck while crossing the Dignams Creek bridge.
The truck driver did not stop at the time, but the trucking company has since contacted Narooma police, according to Narooma police Sergeant Steve Mawson.
The vessel was not significantly damaged but was seen heading north after the accident and police continue their investigations into the accident.
Another accident occurred at 4.15pm last Wednesday, August 29, when a 73-year-old Bodalla man driving a Nissan utility attempted to pull out of a side road onto the Princes Highway.
It is alleged that the driver started to pull out from a track about 150 metres north of Whittakers Creek when he stopped upon seeing a car approaching.
But for some reason he allegedly decided to move ahead out onto the highway.
An Isuzu utility towing a trailer full of tradesman’s tools was coming along the highway when the car pulled out.
Sgt. Mawson said the Isuzu driver swerved to avoid the Nissan but clipped the rear corner.
“It was a very heavy impact,” Sgt. Mawson said.
The Isuzu rolled onto its side before coming to a stop, with the heavily loaded trailer, which forced it ahead with so much momentum, staying on its wheels, Sgt. Mawson said.
The driver of the Nissan was taken to Moruya Hospital before being flown to Canberra for treatment. Police are waiting for blood test results.
Neither the Narooma man driving the Isuzu nor his two passengers were injured despite the utility rolling onto its side.
