Twelve soldiers are currently hospitalised, two of whom are in serious condition, after their military truck rolled over while responding to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in northern New South Wales. This incident involved more than a dozen of the 32 soldiers on board the trucks that crashed on Tregeagle Road, near Lismore, while en route to assist the SES in removing a fallen tree.
The crash involved two Rheinmetall MAN military vehicles travelling in convoy when the leading truck lost control on the slippery and winding road, rolling multiple times before finally stopping in a nearby paddock. The second vehicle, which was following closely, also tipped over in an attempt to avoid a collision.
Nick Moir, the chief photographer for the Sydney Morning Herald, was one of the first on the scene and was taken aback by the scale of the accident. He noted the presence of only a few medics and quickly realised the extent of the injuries.
All injured personnel were transported to various hospitals in the region, including Lismore, Tweed Heads, Ballina, and Byron Bay, with some suffering from spinal injuries and fractures. Superintendent Scott Tanner described it as the largest accident scene he had encountered in his 32 years of service.
Fortunately, all individuals involved were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. Jonathan Earley from the Australian Defence Force expressed deep gratitude to the NSW Ambulance, Police, SES, and Rural Fire Service for their prompt assistance in rescuing the soldiers.
As of Sunday night, the twelve personnel remained in hospital, with two receiving intensive care at Lismore Base Hospital as investigations into the incident continue.