A collision involving two vehicles in the Blue Mountains has seen one man die and resulted in another being taken to hospital.
Police say that the accident occurred on the Great Western Highway at Hartley, near Lithgow, at around 18:35 on February 19 and involved a white Mazda sedan and a semi-trailer.
It is understood that the car was travelling west along the major roadway near the intersection with Jenolan Caves Road when it crossed lanes into the path of the oncoming truck, which was unable to stop in time.
As a result, the heavy vehicle demolished the sedan, leaving it in an almost unrecognisable state.
The driver of the Mazda – a 52-year-old man – suffered extensive injuries during the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Fortunately, the truck's driver – a 48-year-old man – only suffered shock and minor injuries to his shoulder during the accident, although he had to be cut from his cabin.
He was taken to the nearby Lithgow Hospital for treatment, as well as mandatory blood and urine testing.
As for the truck, the impact delivered enough force to remove part of the bull bar and one of the front wheels from under the cabin, while the large fuel tanks on both sides of the vehicle split open, dumping a large quantity of diesel across the highway.
Members from the Volunteer Rescue Squad, Fire and Rescue and the local Rural Fire Brigade were quick to seal off the scene and helped to clean up the spilled fuel, allowing paramedics to remove the survivor before investigations began.
Officers from nearby Lithgow Police examined the scene to try and determine the events preceding the accident before salvage crews were called in to clear away the debris.
The initial cause of the crash has yet to be determined and an official report on who may have been at fault is not currently available.
While the driver of the truck suffered no serious injuries in this particular collision, the cost of medical treatments can in some cases be quite prohibitive.
While car accident compensation can help to cover some of the cost, the process of applying for these payments can seem daunting.
However, a no win no fee arrangement with an experienced law firm can give crash victims the opportunity to explore their legal options with no up-front payment, allowing them to make an informed decision before committing to a course of action.