By Arjun Ramachandran
Sydney Morning Herald
Copyright 2007 The Sydney Morning Herald
SYDNEY, Australia — Three people, trapped in their vehicles after an accident involving 13 cars and a truck in Sydney’s south this afternoon, have been freed and are now in hospital.
Ambulance crews were called to the crash, at Heathcote Road, Heathcote, near the intersection with Forum Drive about 1pm, a spokeswoman for the Ambulance Service of NSW said.
The crew treated 17 patients at the site of the crash, including the three who were trapped.
One of the trapped people — a 55 year-old-male — was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a helicopter, and another was taken to Liverpool Hospital in a helicopter.
Both were in a serious condition.
The third person who was trapped was taken to St George Hospital by road and was stable, the spokeswoman said.
No further information was available on their injuries.
Of the remaining 14 people, four were taken to St George Hospital, three were taken to Sutherland Hospital and seven were still being treated at the site of the crash, the spokeswoman said.
Eight ambulances and two helicopters attended the crash, the spokesman said.
Police also attended the accident.
The accident was caused when a truck heading west on Heathcote Road, about one kilometre east of the Woronora River, collided with about 13 vehicles, police said.
An RTA report of the crash said it occurred in the approach to a work site involving an RTA contractor undertaking geotechnical survey work on a slope adjacent to Heathcote Road.
A lane had been closed to traffic for use in the work zone, and the other lane was being shared by opposing traffic under “Stop-Go” conditions, the report said.
Heathcote Road has been closed between Princes Highway and New Illawarra Road, an RTA spokeswoman said.
New Illawarra Road was closed southbound at the intersection with Old Illawarra Road, Barden Ridge, police said.
Police were advising motorists to avoid the area.
The section of Heathcote Road where the accident is believed to have occured winds and declines steeply.
This accident was spread across 200 metres of roadway, according to the Ambulance Service of NSW.