THE cause of a second fatal collision on the Hume Highway is under investigation.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A 63-year-old man died on Thursday night after his Mazda utility was hit by a B-double at Mullengandra.
The Mazda - which was towing a Morris Minor van on a trailer - flipped onto its roof during the impact and caught alight.
The driver was killed.
The northbound B-double skidded into a guardrail and hit the Sweetwater Creek bridge.
The prime mover stayed on the road but the trailer flipped into a dry creek bed below the bridge.
The truck driver, 48, was airlifted to Canberra Hospital in a serious but stable condition with head and back injuries.
A front passenger in a silver Kia died when the vehicle hit a tree and the driver was critically injured.
The first incident led to minor delays early Thursday, while the highway remained closed for much of Thursday night and Friday following the truck crash.
One northbound lane is still closed.
NSW Fire and Rescue superintendent Stewart Alexander said the second collision, which occurred about 9.20pm, led to an extensive salvage operation.
"One vehicle did catch alight and it was heavily involved in fire," he said.
"That was quickly extinguished by NSW Rural Fire Service firefighters.
"There didn't appear to be any fire to the truck, but it sustained heavy damage though."
The crash spilled fuel on the road.
The B-double had been carrying lettuce and cauliflower.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Debris was strewn through the scene and the Sweetwater Creek bridge and railing was damaged.
Safety barriers on the roadside were also wiped out.
Mr Alexander said people needed to drive to the conditions.
"It's a real tragedy, two serious accidents only a short distance apart," he said.
"It's a timely reminder for everybody to drive safely, particularly with rain forecast in the next day or two."
Albury officers are investigating the cause of both crashes.
In NSW, 106 people have died on the roads this year.
Any witnesses can contact police on (02) 6023 9299.
- Receive our daily newsletter straight to your inbox each morning from The Border Mail. Sign up here