Two killed as two trucks and a car collide south of Nowra, driver airlifted to hospital
The driver and passenger in a car died and one of the truck drivers was airlifted to hospital in a serious condition. (ABC Illawarra: Charles Rushforth)
In short:
Two people have died in a collision involving two trucks and a car on the New South Wales south coast.
The Princes Highway at Falls Creek, south of Nowra, was closed for hours in both directions.
What's next?
Police have established a crime scene and are investigating the cause of the crash.
Two people have died in a crash involving two trucks and a car on the New South Wales south coast.
Emergency services were called to the Princes Highway near Mortimer Road at Falls Creek, south of Nowra, about 8am after the trucks and car collided, blocking the highway.
Police confirmed the driver and passenger in the car died and were yet to be formally identified.
The 27-year-old driver of one truck had to be freed from the wreck and was airlifted to hospital with serious leg injuries.
The 73-year-old male driver of the other truck was taken to Wollongong Hospital with minor injuries.
Both drivers will undergo mandatory testing in hospital.
The crash occurred on the Princes Highway south of Nowra. (Supplied: Live Traffic)
Police have established a crime scene and are investigating the cause of the crash.
The highway has now reopened after it was closed for more than six hours.
Falls Creek resident Belinda Donovan said the incident had created the worst traffic she had ever seen.
"[Cars] are not going anywhere," she said.
"They are backed up all the way to Huskisson, it's bumper to bumper and every arterial road around it — Pine Road, Huskisson Road — is just jammed with cars trying to get out."
Traffic was heavy on the Princes Highway and nearby arterial roads after the crash. (Supplied: Belinda Donovan)
The fatal crash occurred about 2 kilometres from the Jervis Bay Flyover opened by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese late last month.
The $164 million project was launched in 2023 to improve safety at the notorious intersection and stretch of road.
"So much work has been put into preventing accidents, but obviously, something has gone wrong today," Ms Donovan said.
Helen Matthews says the Princes Highway is a notoriously dangerous road. (ABC Illawarra: Charles Rushforth)
Helen Matthews moved to Falls Creek earlier this year and said the traffic conditions on the Princes Highway were "dangerous."
"I often have a horse float … I'll be driving [northbound] wondering if I can turn right [onto Mortimer Road] but the traffic is flying," she said.
"People are on each other's tails so it's very hard to slow down and stop … you should not be able to turn right."