From joy to instant death

By Nick Ralston
Updated November 6 2012 - 3:10am, first published January 25 2012 - 3:19am
The horrifying scene at Menangle after a truck crossed to the wrong side of the Hume Hwy.
The horrifying scene at Menangle after a truck crossed to the wrong side of the Hume Hwy.
Donald and Patricia Logan.
Donald and Patricia Logan.

Donald and Patricia Logan, who died with their son Calvyn in a horrific crash yesterday, had just visited their first great grandson in Canberra when a brick-laden truck on the wrong side of the highway slammed into their car.Three lives were taken in that instant after the truck crossed a grass embankment, crashed through a guard rail and ended up on the opposite side of the Menangle Bridge, a section of the Hume Highway just south of Sydney.The Logans' red Ford, travelling north, had no escape.''I was at the end of the bridge and the truck just came straight over and hit into the red car and it just kept dragging it back and then it came to a halt,'' said Lynn Jones, who witnessed the crash at 11.25am yesterday.The truck came to rest against the guard rail of the bridge, with one wheel overhanging the rail and the front of the Ford flattened under its cab.Motorists ran to try to help the three people - Calvyn Logan, 59, and his parents, Donald and Patricia Logan, both aged in their 80s and from the Forster area - inside the car but there was nothing they could do.''It was just horrific. It was like it was a dream. You can't imagine how bad it was,'' Ms Jones said.A crane was brought in last night to lift the truck from the car so the three people killed could be cut from the wreck. Disaster Victim Identification experts were called in to try to determine the gender and ages of those inside.The truck driver, a 33-year-old man from southern Sydney, was taken to Campbelltown Hospital where he was treated for shock and minor injuries. He underwent blood and alcohol testing.The driver, from Picnic Point, has told police a learner driver pulled in front of his B-double, causing him to veer onto the opposite side of the road. Police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash to come forward.Northbound lanes of the Hume Highway remained closed last night and delays were expected for those travelling south. Emergency crews were also dealing with 1500 litres of diesel that spilled into the Nepean River from the truck's ruptured fuel tank. Floating booms were placed across the river in an effort to contain the spill and it was not expected to have an impact on Sydney's water supply.The mayor of Campbelltown, Anoulack Chanthivong, said the Menangle Bridge area of the highway was rarely congested. ''Traffic seems to flow quite well through there. It is close to where I live and there has never been any real trouble with accidents there. This is just a tragedy,'' Mr Chanthivong said.Police are now appealing for witnesses to the crash and anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.The Menangle crash occurred just hours after another fatal collision, this time involving two trucks, claimed the life of a driver on the Newell Highway at Dubbo.with Alicia Wood

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