Multi-Vehicle Crash on M1 Leaves Five Injured Near Mooney Mooney

Five men were hospitalized following a serious collision on the M1 Pacific Motorway near Mooney Mooney early Saturday morning. The crash occurred when a prime mover struck three parked vehicles, trapping Good Samaritans who had stopped to assist another driver. Emergency services, including New South Wales (NSW) Ambulance paramedics and Fire and Rescue NSW, responded swiftly, with one victim airlifted to hospital.

The incident unfolded around 4 a.m. after a sedan veered off the road and hit the center rock wall, approximately two kilometers north of the Berowra exit. A 43-year-old Hyundai driver pulled over to help the 26-year-old sedan driver, who then joined him in the parked vehicle. Two other men aged 39 and 48 also stopped to assist and were standing near the parked cars when a southbound prime mover collided with the stationary vehicles, pinning them against the rock wall.

The impact left the 39-year-old with a fractured pelvis and femur, while the 48-year-old suffered a deep leg laceration. The Hyundai driver sustained a leg injury, and the younger sedan passenger complained of back pain. The truck driver, a 65-year-old Northern Rivers man, was unharmed but taken to Hornsby Hospital for mandatory blood and alcohol testing. All southbound lanes were closed for two hours, causing significant delays as authorities cleared the wreckage.

This tragic incident highlights the dangers of stopping on high-speed motorways, even with good intentions. While the exact cause remains under investigation by Kuring-Gai Police, it serves as a stark reminder for motorists to exercise extreme caution when assisting stranded drivers. With emergency responders stretched thin, such preventable accidents further strain NSW’s critical infrastructure. Authorities urge drivers to prioritize safety by activating hazard lights and moving clear of traffic lanes when stopped.