Police and the Environment Protection Authority remain on the scene of a extraordinary crash on Thursday morning, where a truck nosedived off the Hume Freeway into the Ovens River, sending groceries and fuel downstream.
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The process of pulling the truck out of the river was expected to be a long process, taking most of the day.
CFA operations officer Trevor Logan said it was not possible to put a crane on the bridge, meaning authorities would have to drag the vehicle out onto the median strip.
“They started setting up for the extraction at first light this morning. It’s probably going to take all day to get it out,” he said.
A net has been set up about 200 metres downstream to catch the extra groceries expected to fall out of the truck when it is pulled out of the river.
North East Water representatives were also at the scene on Wednesday evening, after the truck crashed at about 5pm,
“All services are being provided as normal and Wangaratta’s drinking water has not been affected by contamination,” NEW said in a statement.
“All our water storages across the city have been filled to maintain a quality of supply ahead of the expected clean-up of the river.”
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