By Samantha Freestone | May 17, 2010A fatal truck crash that caused the vehicle to explode was believed to be caused by driver fatigue.
The truck driver died when his B-double collided with a tree on the Calder Highway in the early hours of the morning. Diesel leaked, causing it to catch fire.
Police say the 31-year-old man was travelling south near Wedderburn in Victoria when the truck crossed to the northbound lanes.
Senior Constable Peter Bullock from Bendigo Police station says no brake marks were found on the road, which makes the case “appear” to be fatigue related.
“It is certainly a contributing factor. But as there is no other evidence and no witnesses it is hard to say,” Bullock says.
“There has been an investigation going all morning.”
Bullock says the truck was empty and on its way to the sale yards when the crash occurred.
“It was south-bound, ran off the road, over a concrete embankment and the truck and both trailers landed on their side,” he says.