3.30pm UPDATE: Orana superintendent Peter McKenna has held a press conference at the scene of the the accident on Tuesday afternoon.
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He confirmed that seven vehicles travelling southbound on the Newell Highway were involved in the crash at the sight of roadworks. Two of those vehicles were prime movers.
Twelve people in total were in the seven vehicles, with two people deceased at the scene. Eight people have been taken by road ambulance to Dubbo base hospital while another two people remained trapped in the vehicles.
NSW Fire and Rescue and Volunteer Rescue Association personnel are working to release the trapped people, with Ambulance helicopter waiting to transport them to Sydney hospitals.
Supt McKenna said the road is likely to remain closed for several hours, including into the night, with Crash Investigation Units from Sydney and Bathurst travelling to the scene to assist detectives with the investgation.
NSW Ambulance officer Chris Wilson said six ambulance crews and two helicopters attended the scene with several patients transported in a stable condition.
He said they were “very fortunate considering the incident.”
One of the three people trapped, an 18-year-old male, had already been released and taken to hospital.
3pm UPDATE: Two people have died and three people are trapped after a multi-vehicle crash about 20 kilometres north of Dubbo.
Ten people are reported to be injured in the incident.
Emergency services were called to the location about 12.30pm on Tuesday after reports of a collision involving two trucks and four cars.
Eight ambulance crews and three choppers are at the accident site on the Newell Highway.
"One car is believed to be completely crushed under a truck," said NSW Ambulance superintendent Kathy Golledge.
"We are treating multiple patients, some are still trapped by compression at this stage."
Authorities have described the scene as "absolute carnage".
There are currently unconfirmed reports that at least one person trapped in one of the vehicles is talking with emergency crews.
EARLIER: The Newell Highway is currently closed in both directions and motorists should avoid the area. For the latest traffic updates visit livetraffic.com
About 20 emergency service vehicles are on the scene, with crash investigators and SafeWork NSW officers en route.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area.
Motorists needing to travel between Gilgandra and Dubbo are advised to travel via Narromine along the Mitchell Highway and Eumungerie Road.
This diversion is suitable for all vehicles.
The highway is expected to remain closed for some time.
For the latest traffic information, visit www.livetraffic.com
Ben Walker
Jennifer Hoar
Lynn Rayner
I am the editor of the Daily Liberal, Mailbox Shopper, Western Magazine and associated western publications (Wellington Times and Narromine News which are both online only publications). I have been the editor for three years. I have been a journalist for 15 years and was formally the digital specialist for the Western NSW area assisting with digital coverage and growth across 13 mastheads, including the three dailies. Before that I worked as a journalist in Lithgow and Mudgee covering a number of different rounds. I established the social media accounts in Lithgow and took an interest in the digital aspects of the paper. I started my journalism career at the former Myall Coast Nota based as the journalist-in-charge at Tea Gardens while also working part time in Forster as the council reporter for the Great Lakes Advocate.
I am the editor of the Daily Liberal, Mailbox Shopper, Western Magazine and associated western publications (Wellington Times and Narromine News which are both online only publications). I have been the editor for three years. I have been a journalist for 15 years and was formally the digital specialist for the Western NSW area assisting with digital coverage and growth across 13 mastheads, including the three dailies. Before that I worked as a journalist in Lithgow and Mudgee covering a number of different rounds. I established the social media accounts in Lithgow and took an interest in the digital aspects of the paper. I started my journalism career at the former Myall Coast Nota based as the journalist-in-charge at Tea Gardens while also working part time in Forster as the council reporter for the Great Lakes Advocate.
