Police are appealing for witnesses to a crash between a car and a petrol tanker near Berry which claimed two lives at the weekend.
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A truck and ute collided at the intersection of the Princes Highway and Jaspers Brush Road, south of Berry shortly after 1am on Saturday.
The driver of the ute, who was identified as 22-year-old Ulladulla man Corey Gavin, died at the scene. The 59-year-old truck driver, identified as Kevin Schey of Bradbury, was rushed to St George Hospital with spinal injuries and other fractures, but later died.
The crash ruptured one of the truck’s petrol tanks, causing ethanol to leak on to the road.
Hazmat crews established an exclusion zone around the spill while they try to stem the rupture.
Motorists experienced lengthy delays, with the Princes Highway not fully opening for about 18 hours.
Shoalhaven police set up a crime scene in the area to investigate the cause of the accident and said yesterday that investigations were ongoing.
‘‘An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is continuing and anyone who witnessed it, or the events leading up to it, should contact investigators,’’a spokesman said.
The traffic chaos was further compounded by an accident on Saturday afternoon on Bolong Road, which was used as an alternate route for motorists travelling up and down the coast.
Around 5pm, a car entering Bolong Road from Backforest Road spun into oncoming traffic on both sides of the road in heavy rain.
Three vehicles were involved in the accident.
Both lanes were blocked for around an hour and a 40-year-old woman was taken to Shoalhaven Hospital with chest pain.
Anyone with information on the Princes Highway crash is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.